The Wee Forest
In October 2021, Glasgow Science Centre joined forces with local community members to create the Govan Wee Forest. This charming woodland, a part of the Tiny Forest family, brings the wonders of nature right into the heart of Govan and demonstrates the incredible power of community and the beauty of nature.
What is a Wee Forest?
The Wee Forest is a dense, native woodland that helps deal with the effects of climate change, provides a haven for urban wildlife and provides a place to connect people with nature.
Urban forests help us to adapt to a changing climate as they absorb rainfall, help prevent floods, offer shelter to both wildlife and people, and store carbon in growing trees and plants.
The Wee Forest provides a natural habitat that attracts over 400 species of animals, insects, and plants, while also serving as a communal space for learning and play. Schools and community groups can use it as an outdoor classroom, discovering the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation.
The Wee Forest is looked after by local volunteers who water, litter pick and collect scientific information about the Wee Forest as it grows.
Trees and Plants at the Wee Forest
This Wee Forest is planted using a technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. It is a dense mix of 600 Scottish native trees, shrubs, and ground-covering plants.
If you're looking to learn more about some of the trees and plants that can be found at the Wee Forest click the image below.
Mural Art
The mural wall at the Wee Forest got a stunning makeover in 2024. The community team facilitated a series of creative sessions with some lovely young people who were participating in a creative course run by our community partners, Impact Arts.
We went along to the Impact Arts City Centre hub, The Boardwalk, and along with our artist friends, Barry Jenkins and Johann Mendoza, the young people codesigned the new mural. Having spent some time outside and in the Wee Forest, the Impacts Arts crew were very keen on bright colours, bold shapes and a design that reflected the natural surroundings. The result is beautifully bright artwork that transforms the area and celebrates the shapes found in nature and the nearby Wee Forest. Here are some lovely images of the wall with artists Barry and Johann standing proudly next to the artwork that took them 5 days to complete.
Community Event
To celebrate the amazing Govan Wee Forest, we held an event inviting the community to discover their local Wee Forest and learn more about the wildlife, beautiful trees and colourful plants that can be found there.
Where to find the Wee Forest
The Wee Forest can be found behind Bells Bar at 579 Govan Rd, G51 2AS
Partners & Contributors
A big thank you to:
- tinyforest Earthwatch
- Bloomberg
- Glasgow City Council
- NatureScot
- SWG3
- Govan Youth Information Project
Please report any damage to Glasgow City Council via [email protected]
Your donations make a real difference!
As a registered Scottish charity, our mission is to engage and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to discover and enjoy science. Your generosity will allow us to continue to provide fun and informative outreach programmes for young people and to work with communities from the local area and across Scotland, making a real difference to people's lives. We appreciate your support.
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Price
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