Natura Nostra Forest
A pocket of green among the concrete
Our permanent pocket forest is made up of 390 trees, including 24 native species, that will grow over time to create a natural oasis in the centre of London.
In a collaboration between the Southbank Centre, Moët & Chandon and urban rewilding organisation SUGi, 390 trees have been planted on a 130-metre-squared area of our site.
Over time, the trees will grow into a new ‘pocket forest’ and become a permanent feature of the Southbank Centre.
Created using the Miyawaki Method, a technique that allows for quick planting and an almost maintenance-free upkeep, this pocket forest is designed to encourage wildlife and nature to thrive among the concrete architecture of the site.
Installed using a dense style of planting, it reintroduces 24 native British species such as elder, crab apple, dog rose and more to the heart of London.
It is estimated that this pocket forest will provide an average of 3 kilos of sequestered carbon per square metre and a total of 405 kilos each year over the first 20 years of growth. Carbon sequestration is the capturing, removal and storage of carbon dioxide.
The forest’s success will be monitored with yearly biodiversity reports, reflecting the Southbank Centre’s commitment to sustainability.