Astaffort School Forest
Creating an Outdoor Classroom in Astaffort, France.
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The Astaffort School Forest is part of a series of environmental projects across the region. This environmental partnership with the municipality began in 2011 with a proposal made by the Nature Club to develop various communal lands on which vegetation was virtually non-existent due to lack of maintenance and damaging weather events.
In more recent consultations with the local government, the final development project for the Astaffort land saw a decision reached to create an innovative, outdoor educational space for a local school by planting a 200 Sq m native Miyawaki forest. The idea was for the forest to become a place of fun, curiosity and learning for the children, as well as a place of refuge for local wildlife.
Forest Maker
MiniBig Forest
“The Astaffort Forest emerged from a chance meeting between three women acutely aware of the importance of ecological projects in promoting greater understanding about the environment, supporting biodiversity, and also cultivating a sense of community among those able to enjoy the completed forest projects.”
Noëlie Courier, MiniBig Forest Maker
Forest Report: 2023
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Average of Tallest 3 Trees
A beautiful community lives around the forest of Grùndeluno (named by the famous French singer Francis Cabrel (in Occitan = "Grain de Lune"). A tale was even written by these Guardians of the forest.
Workshops are organized every month by the CPN club 'Knowing and Protecting Nature' on the forest: including maintenance and identification of spontaneous flora and fauna.
Next spring, a day will be co-organized involving the screening of the film 'Vivant' in the presence of its author Rémi Dupouy and directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. We will also be hosting a guided tour of Grùndeluno by MiniBigForest.
Biodiversity Notes:
Forest Report: 2022
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This forest is thriving at 1 year old with an exceptional survival rate, particularly considering the summer heatwave and drought of this year. The forest was watered several times across July and August, which has certainly benefited it. Though the average height of the tallest 3 trees is 150cm, the tallest species is currently a sweet cherry (Prunus avium) at 205cm.
The Astaffort students have been involved in the maintenance and monitoring of the forest; it is a real source of enrichment - educational and spiritual - for the entire school community.
Biodiversity Notes:
Various insects have been seen in the forest, including various species of grasshopper and ladybugs. A stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) and knot grass moth caterpillar (Acronicta rumicis) have been identified too.
Planting: March 2022
Other Forests Nearby
Jolimont Primary Forest
A green lung for 'The Pink City'.
Rion Des Landes College
Cultivating greenery and tranquility for children in a treeless environment.
IME Val Lorie
A green lung for kids within a high density industrial area.
