Auchterarder Pocket Forest

This area of ground is home to a landmark rewilding project a sustainability initiative to support our natural heritage for generations to come. Over 1,000 individual native trees and shrubs have been chosen to create an ideal habitat for several thousand indigenous insect species.

Over 1,000 individual native trees and shrubs have been chosen to create an ideal habitat for several thousand indigenous insect species.

It is estimated that this pocket forest will give an average carbon sequestration rate of three kilos per square metre per annum, at a total of 405 kilos per annum over the first 20 years of growth. Carbon sequestration is the capturing, removal and storage of carbon dioxide.

The forest, planted with the help of Rothschild & Co’s partners and local school children, was planted using the Miyawaki method to mirror natures ways of forming a vibrant forest via dense planting of multi-layered strata and succession of native species.

The pocket forest has been designed by SUGi to celebrate and support the natural world. In addition to being a haven for biodiversity it will serve as an outdoor classroom for the local community around Auchterarder, providing essential lessons on sustainability issues, climate change and biodiversity.
SUGi is a global platform fully dedicated to biodiversity building, ecosystem restoration and reconnecting people to nature, through the creation of ultra-dense, biodiverse forests of native species in urban areas. They are among the few rewilding organisations to offer a simple and authentic way of making visible change with radical transparency to anyone, anywhere as an antidote
to current climate issues and biodiversity loss.

With over 160 pocket forests planted in 28 cities so far, they have reconnected over 40,000 youth and community members to nature.
To introduce the community to the forest straight away, 61 children from Muthill Primary School were invited to plant and take part in an outdoor lesson. Planting and maintaining a pocket forest provides a unique opportunity for children to engage and connect with nature and see that their actions can make a direct impact on the environment. Learning this is key to ensuring that the next generation foster a sense of stewardship towards the natural world.

We hope that this pocket forest can provide a space for recreation and community in addition to supporting biodiversity and contributing to climate change mitigation.

R&Co4Generations is Rothschild & Co’s philanthropic group approach with a mission to empower the next generations.

Through R&Co4Generations, we collaborate with charities and social enterprises working to address the effects of social and economic inequalities and climate change. Education and supporting young people have been key features of our philanthropic activity for over 200 years.
With support from our charity partners worldwide, we are proud to help young people engage with nature, see that their actions can have tangible environmental outcomes, and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Auchterarder Community Sports and Recreation (ACSR) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation working to enable everyone who lives in and around Auchterarder to have access to safe, accessible and cost-
friendly sports and active recreation opportunities.

Protecting and enhancing green spaces is crucial to enabling this and this forest project will provide a lasting educational and health and wellbeing legacy to the community.

So far ACSR has raised over £2m for the local community and engaged over 40 volunteers with their projects, ranging from upgrading rural paths around the town to creating new green spaces, including a new children’s
play park.