The base for three new pocket forests has been created.  The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario has generously allowed REAL to use a site on at their 90 William Street location, which is  across the road from the REAL Deal.

A pocket forest is a smaller version of  mini forest.  A variety of plants is densely planted with native species following the Miyawaki method, and quickly becomes a mature forest.  REAL planted a mini forest at Hyland Park in 2024.  We hope the pocket forests will demonstrate something that more people can try in the own yards or properties, as they only need to be 7 square metres to be effective.   The layout at RMEO includes three pocket forests.

Volunteers worked the morning of April 27 to lay the necessary layers.  First cardboard was laid down and wet.  Then came a layer of well-composted leaves, a lay of topsoil and finally a layer of wood chips.  Thanks to the Town of Smiths Falls for providing the compost and soil and delivering it that day.  The railway museum had a stockpile of wood chips that we used.  Now we wait 5-6 months for the layers to mature into suitable forest soil. 

The forest will be planted in the fall.  Each of the three pocket forests will demonstrate a different type of forest, as there are about six combinations that are suitable for this area.   Signage will be added to explain the purpose of the plantings to visitors to the museum property.  Wagon rides given by museum volunteers will pass by the forests.

This pocket forest demonstration is funded from a generous donation made by Brooke Henderson to the Rideau Environmental Action League.