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
Now in its second year, the Wee Forest is thriving. To celebrate the space and encourage communities and schools to visit, we teamed up with SWG3 to work with local young people to design a vibrant mural for the wall that runs adjacent to the Forest.
Working alongside the local talented artist Tragic O’Hara, the local school children designed an amazing mural that perfectly complements the Wee Forest.
“I think spaces like these are great for local people, it’s a place to call their own that isn’t just concrete and makes a huge difference to people, especially their mental health. I’m a father and know how much my boys love being outside and learning outside, this project gave the young people things to do and learn that wasn’t just sitting at a desk” - Tragic O’Hara
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.
Science Passport
Get unlimited access to the Science Mall for a year when you become a member of our Science Passport scheme.
Price
£44.25 per adult | £39.45 per concession | £34.50 per child | Under 3s go free!
Buying a Science Passport
The best way to purchase is online as you will be able to manage your Science Passport and renew through your online account in future and we will keep you up to date when your year is nearly up.