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- 600 trees set to be planted at Heart of Worcestershire College in Bromsgrove

- Site will become inspiring outdoor classroom for young people to learn about nature

- Tiny Forest to play an important role in leaving an environmental legacy following Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Green fingers are at the ready at Heart of Worcestershire College in Bromsgrove as they prepare to team up with Severn Trent to plant a Tiny Forest in celebration of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games next week, supported by environmental charity Earthwatch Europe. 

The Tiny Forest in Bromsgrove will be one of six sites being planted across the West Midlands next week, with others located in Coventry, Warwick, Nuneaton and Stafford.

Around 3,600 trees in total are set to be planted across the six sites with the support of Earthwatch Europe. Each site will become a nature-rich accessible green space and an inspiring outdoor classroom for people to reconnect with nature.  

As Birmingham 2022’s Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent is creating 72 tennis-court-sized Tiny Forests across the region, one for each of the nations and territories competing in the Games. The sites will help to deliver a lasting legacy for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as well as boosting access to green space in urban areas, supporting environmental education and increasing regional resilience against environmental issues such as flooding, heat stress and nature loss.  

Severn Trent’s Forest Delivery Manager, Ricky Dallow, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be planting these Severn Trent Tiny Forests at schools across the West Midlands. As a company that takes care of one of life’s essentials, we’re really passionate about making a positive impact on the communities and the environment where we live and work and these Tiny Forests are going to be a real asset to the West Midlands.  

“Tiny Forests might be small, but their impact will be mighty, not only will they help to deliver a lasting legacy for the Games but they will also create inspiring outdoor classrooms allowing children to learn first-hand about nature and the environment.” 

Jessica Fidler, Head of Sustainability, Birmingham 2022 said: “Tiny Forests help young people learn about the environment and sustainability in an interactive and accessible way. Birmingham 2022 is more than 11 days of sport and it’s important we leave a positive social and environmental legacy for generations to come. This Tiny Forest will help connect the local community with green spaces and show them how to connect with nature and protect it for many years.” 

Peter Robinson, Vice Principal – Curriculum and Standards and Chair of the Eco Group at HoW College said: “We’re delighted to be hosting a Severn Trent Tiny Forest, in recognition of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have one of these tiny but super powerful forests right here at HoW College and we hope this forest will give more people, schools and community groups access to green spaces, right here on their doorstep, as well as leaving a legacy for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.” 

Earthwatch Europe, the environmental charity pioneering the Tiny Forest movement in the UK, is supporting Severn Trent in the delivery of the Tiny Forests, which can attract over 500 animal and plant species within the first three years of planting.    

Hannah Davidson, Tiny Forest Programme Manager at Earthwatch said: “We are delighted to be working with Severn Trent to connect so many schools and communities across the West Midlands with nature.” 

The trees planted will also form part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the UK to "Plant a Tree for the Jubilee". 

Information on volunteering for upcoming community planting days across the region can be found here.