East London II — Natura Nostra Forest
Continuing the remediation of land in Dagenham.
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Trees
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Square Meters
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Native Species
This is the second Natura Nostra Forest in the borough of Barking and Dagenham, an area dominated by green deserts that is in desperate need of more pockets of biodiverse native forest.
As with the first Natura Nostra Forest in Parsloes Park, this second iteration - located in Eastbrook End - is another visible demonstration of how Nature and urbanization can co-exist successfully, even in the most densely-populated metropolis.
Forest Maker
James Godfrey-Faussett
Forest Partner
Urban Heat Profile
The Urban Heat Island Effect is affecting cities more and more each year and temperatures in urban areas can go up to 12 degrees hotter. This can be reduced and prevented by planting urban forests like this. We collected the air temperatures on a hot day in August at East London II and saw amazing results.
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Surface Temperature Difference
Forest Report: 2025
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Forest Age
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Survival Rate
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Average of Tallest 3 Trees
Very lush and full forest, dense and difficult to walk through. Ground cover of Creeping Cinquefoil has been very good to act as a living mulch, retaining moisture in the soil. Surrounding area has really become parched and some of the tall grass has caught fire leaving an area of burnt ground, the forest has not been affected by the fire at all.
Forest Design
This site of the pocket forest is a challenge for healthy growth due to the soil containing rubbish and industrial ash waste from Dagenham's past. A lot of industrial infrastructure was knocked down, turned into a foam of ash and used to create level park areas.
In this project, we remediated the soil to create a vibrant pocket of indigenous forest. The complexity and diversity of planting allows above and below-ground biodiversity to create a small ecological hub in the area too. Species include: nitrogen fixers such as alder, pioneer species such as birch, crack willow and elder, plus climax species of oak and the reintroduction of elm, that gradually needs to be reestablished into UK forest ecosystems.
Forest Report: 2024
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Forest Age
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Survival Rate
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Average of Tallest 3 Trees
A beautiful patch of land that looks much more like a wild meadow at the moment as the tree growth has so far been slow. The planting area is surrounded by a mature forest that still dwarfs the planted area - yet we have seen significant mushroom growth in the forest, indicative of a healthy soil and an upcoming growth season that will see the forest boom in size.
Biodiversity:
