Planting a Miyawaki Forest at The Calgary Zoo  - September 26th, 2026

Written by Ayesha Zaheer and Arabella Wong

This September, Calgary Climate Hub planted a new mini forest at the Calgary Zoo, and it
brought a whole community together around one small patch of ground.

 Here's how the two days went.

Thursday, September 25: Preparing the Ground

Before anyone could plant, the site needed a plan. Our team arrived at the zoo, measured the site and put in stakes. Then we ran tape between them to divide the space into 16 zones, so each group of planters would have its own clear area.

Next came the flags. Dark green flags marked where tall shrubs, short shrubs and wildflowers would go, and fluorescent green flags marked the trees. This mix of layers, planted close together, is what makes a Miyawaki forest. By the end of the day every zone was labelled and the site was ready. It looked like a map drawn on the ground: a bare patch of soil that would be a young forest by the next afternoon.

Friday, September 26: Planting Day

Our team was back at the zoo early to set up the welcome table with check-in sheets and everything else guests would need. While people started to arrive, Heather Addy met with our Zone Captains, gave each of them a zone and walked them through their duties for the day. Around 50 volunteers joined us. Once everyone was checked in and welcomed, the program began.

Jared Blustein opened the event by introducing Calgary Climate Hub and the work we do. Katharine Varze from the Calgary Zoo followed and thanked the Hub for bringing a forest to the zoo.

Councillor Harrison Clark then shared a few words, and it happened to be his birthday, so it was a special day for him to spend planting trees with us.

My fellow Tree Equity Ambassador Arabella and I spoke next about how the NE quadrant is struggling the most when it comes to tree canopy and asked for help to make sure shade spreads to every neighbourhood in Calgary.

Elder Adrian Wolfleg shared words with everyone, a moment that grounded the day in our relationship with the land we were about to plant.

Karen Chow from our Board of Directors went over safety tips so everyone could plant safely. Coffee, pastries and water were set out, and people chatted and got to know one another before the work began.

Heather and Rob Miller then gave a planting demonstration, showing everyone the technique before they headed to their zones.

And then we planted. Zone by zone, flag by flag, the bare soil we had mapped out the day before filled with young trees, shrubs and wildflowers.

We finished the day with a group photo of everyone who helped bring this forest to life.

Looking Ahead

A mini forest is only the beginning. Over the coming years these plants will grow together into a dense, layered patch of green in the heart of the city. It will be a place for wildlife, for learning and for the many zoo visitors who will watch it grow.

Thank you to the Calgary Zoo, Councillor Harrison Clark, our speakers, our Zone Captains and every volunteer who came out and got their hands in the soil.

A big thank you to the Forests for Calgary Steering Committee for all their work, including Heather Addy, Rob Miller, Lindsey McDonald, Kerry Ross, Jared Blustein, Arabella Wong and Ayesha Zaheer.

Many thanks to the Green Communities Canada Living Cities Fund for their generous funding support for this project.

Photos by Albert Woo