A forest in the middle of the city? On 21 April we proved once again that Katowice and a pocket forest are a great combination.
The planting took place as part of the Green Pulse of Silesia programme, a long-term educational and ecological initiative carried out by One More Tree Foundation and Stellantis Philanthropy, part of the global automotive group Stellantis.
Shovels at the Ready
This time it was Stellantis volunteers who picked up the shovels. 700 saplings were planted on a small plot in the Witosa estate, efficiently, one hole after another, without unnecessary fuss.
We planted 7 native tree species, each playing a different role in the ecosystem. Silver birches will be the first to settle into their new home and prepare the soil for the others. Small-leaved limes and common maples will form a dense canopy that shades the ground and retains moisture. Hornbeams and pedunculate oaks are long-lived species that will in time give the forest its structure and become home to dozens of species of insects and birds. Scots pine and European larch will enrich the forest’s microclimate and make the ecosystem more resilient to drought and temperature changes. Together they form a system that will become increasingly self-sufficient year by year.
It’s Not About Quantity – It’s About Selection
Although more is usually said to be better, with pocket forests something else counts. The right choice of species and a considered planting method mean that even a small plot can become a genuine green space. Trees planted densely, using the Miyawaki method, compete for light and grow faster, while also forming a web of interdependencies from the very start – and that web is the strength of the entire ecosystem.
This is not a park with neat paths and trimmed lawns. It is a piece of forest with its own soil, its own microclimate, and its own rhythm.
What This Forest Will Do for the Estate
In a few years, the trees in the Witosa estate will be cooling the surroundings on hot days, retaining rainwater, purifying the air, and providing shelter for insects and birds. In a city that heats up like a frying pan in summer, every such patch of greenery has real significance for its residents.
How many more pocket forests will fit in Katowice? We can’t wait to find out.
We would like to thank the project’s strategic partner – Stellantis Philanthropy – for their invaluable support.
