Tiny Forest Monitoring Report 2025
Thank you to our brilliant Nature in Cities citizen scientists who have helped collect the data for this year’s Tiny Forest Monitoring Report. Over 2,200 citizen scientists helped us monitor the health and benefits of Tiny Forests across the UK. We couldn’t do this research without our incredible community! This report shows how the UK’s Tiny Forest network is developing and delivering essential ecosystem service.
Key findings
Biodiversity
As Tiny Forests age, the diversity of different ground-dwelling invertebrates increases.
Flood mitigation
Water infiltration rates inside Tiny Forests are on average 32% faster compared to the surrounding area; thanks, in part to the 38% lower soil compaction inside a Tiny Forest compared to outside.
Carbon storage
Tiny Forests store exponentially more carbon as they grow. We estimate that, all together, Earthwatch’s Tiny Forests are currently sequestering about 35,000 kg of above ground Carbon, not counting the roots! This equates to 128 metric tonnes of CO2.
Thermal comfort
Visitors consistently report that they feel more comfortable inside the forest than in the surrounding open environment.
Social benefits
Participation in Discovery Days increases attendees’ environmental and social connectedness—feeling 8% more connected to nature, 5% more connected to their local community, and 3% more responsible for their local environment.
