Miyawaki microforest in Anderlecht | The Crescent

Miyawaki microforest

A microforest at The Crescent - in the heart of the Erasmus district

Anderlecht, Brussels

900

300 m2

20/10/2024

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The Project

In the economic and industrial zone surrounding the Erasmus campus in Anderlecht, SOWoods has created a new 300 m² Miyawaki microforest on the grounds of The Crescent business centre.

The aim: to transform a little-used lawn into a space much richer in local biodiversity, whilst at the same time enhancing the presence of nature in a highly urbanised environment, surrounding the Meylemeersch nature reserve and the Vogelzang,, one of the few areas in the Brussels-Capital Region that have remained in their natural state.

The project was made possible thanks to the support of KBC Brussels, which funded the micro-forest and mobilised its teams to help with the planting on 20 October 2024.

Initial situation

The site originally consisted of a lawn with limited ecological value and was rarely used by people working at the business centre.

Its location, however, is particularly interesting. The site lies close to the Meylemeersch nature reserve and Vogelzang, two important natural areas in this part of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Transforming the lawn therefore provided an opportunity to create a new habitat for biodiversity and strengthen the ecological connections around these natural areas.

The proximity of a wetland area was also taken into account during the design process, allowing the choice of species to be adapted to the local ecological context.

SOWoods’ solution

SOWoods designed a 300 m² microforest made up of 900 trees and shrubs from 24 different species.

The planting palette was selected with particular attention to the nearby wetland environment, using species suited to these conditions and capable of supporting the biodiversity associated with this type of habitat.

The planting was carried out according to the Miyawaki method, using a high planting density and a diverse mix of species. This allows different vegetation layers to develop over time and creates a more complex forest ecosystem than the lawn that previously occupied the site.

On 20 October 2024, the teams of KBC Brussels joined SOWoods for a participatory planting day. In total, 30 SOWers helped plant the trees and shrubs and bring this new microforest to life.

The project was implemented on the grounds of The Crescent, a BREEAM-certified business centre that places particular emphasis on maintaining green and natural outdoor spaces.

Benefits

Ecologocial :

Transformation of 300 m² of lawn into a much more diverse habitat.
Planting of 900 trees and shrubs across 24 different species.
Gradual creation of new food resources and shelter for local wildlife.
Selection of species adapted to the nearby wetland environment.
Strengthening of ecological connections around Meylemeersch and Vogelzang.
Greater vegetation diversity within an economic and industrial area.

Climate-related :

Transformation of 300 m² of lawn into a much more diverse habitat.
Planting of 900 trees and shrubs across 24 different species.
Gradual creation of new food resources and shelter for local wildlife.
Selection of species adapted to the nearby wetland environment.
Strengthening of ecological connections around Meylemeersch and Vogelzang.
Greater vegetation diversity within an economic and industrial area.

Social :

Creation of an additional natural space for people working at The Crescent.
Direct involvement of KBC Brussels teams in the implementation of the project.
Hands-on awareness of planting and the development of a microforest.
A collective project bringing together a company, a site manager and local biodiversity.