Second Tiny Forest Planted in Exmouth’s Brixington Park

With support from Devon County Council’s completed three-year Emergency Tree Fund, East Devon District Council organized community volunteers to plant a second site at Brixington Park.

A second tiny forest has been planted in Exmouth following the success of a multi-award-winning sister site in the town.

Last year, more than 600 trees were planted in a space roughly the size of a tennis court at King George’s playing field.   

East Devon now not only boasts one site but two, while also being one of the only districts in the country to trial this ground breaking technique, helping to add vital green spaces and wildlife habitats, at a time when urban spaces are growing at a rapid rate, and green spaces are more crucial than ever before.  

The newly planted forest was influenced by the Japanese Miyawaki tiny forest concept, where young trees are planted close together in the expectation that competition will encourage the forest to grow faster than traditional woodlands. 

Now, as part of a drive to expand the project, backed with funding from Devon County Council’s (DCC) three-year Emergency Tree Fund drive (which has now come to an end), East Devon District Council (EDDC) helped bring together community volunteers to plant a second site at Brixington Park.  

It came about after the Exmouth Tiny Forest Group campaigned for the opportunity to create a second new tiny forest in another Exmouth green space. A well-supported and inclusive public consultation was then held, as part of investigations into the site’s viability. Exmouth Tiny Forest Group also went door-to-door providing information, answering questions and gathering opinions about the project. 

This project was made possible thanks to the hard work of dozens of residents, school children and teachers from Brixington Primary Academy, as well as Exmouth Tiny Forest Group, Exmouth Wildlife Group, Exmouth in Bloom, Suez staff from household recycling centre, EDDC’s Exmouth Area Officer, and EDDC’s Parks and Gardens Officer; all of whom joined forces for the planting day on Friday, January 17, 2025. 

The second forest marks another milestone in the district's commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement, transforming the space into a vibrant green area that will serve as a hub for outdoor learning, wildlife conservation, and environmental research.  

The trees will also help to improve drainage in the area, which is prone to flooding, while also cleaning the air and providing an area of much-needed shade beside a play area. 

This innovative Japanese Miyawaki approach supports the district’s ongoing research into contrasting planting styles, fostering rapid growth and increased biodiversity, and helping shape future afforestation efforts in East Devon. It also helped to establish much needed habitats, colonising a small area (which will develop as the trees grow) while also retaining residents’ access, use and enjoyment of the remaining green space. 

Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC’s portfolio holder for coast, country, and environment, celebrated the awards, said: 

“The first Tiny Forest has quickly become a symbol of environmental stewardship, earning prestigious awards from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) South West in Bloom, including the London and Manchester Trophy and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Environmental Award.  

“The second forest at Brixington Park builds on this success, reinforcing Exmouth’s role as a leader in community-driven environmental projects.  

“We are excited to continue working with the community to enhance our green spaces and promote sustainable living. 

“A consultation on the final draft of EDDC’s Tree, Hedge and Woodland Strategy 2024 – 2034 closes on Friday (January 31). One of the actions suggested is to ‘…focus efforts around tree planting and community engagement in the areas that most need it. If you would like to share your views or make a comment visit https://eddctreehedgeandwoodlandpublicstrategyconsultation.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/finalstrategycomments/step1. 

“Any residents who would like to see a tiny forest in their East Devon town and would like to suggest a site (owned by EDDC) that they would like to be assessed for viability, can email parksangardens@eastdevon.gov.uk.”