How suitable are Miyawaki forests in 21st century England? -- The exploration of the perceptions towards the Miyawaki Forest method’s application in 21st England.

Forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change, supporting biodiversity, and improving quality of life. The Miyawaki forest is described as a dense, fast-growing and biodiverse native forest. It is based on afforestation management methods pioneered by Dr Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s. As an innovative urban greening approach, the MFM has garnered increasing attention in Europe recently, particularly in the UK, where hundreds of projects have been initiated since 2020, due to its rapid afforestation claims. This thesis investigates the suitability of implementing the MFM in England through a mixed-method research design, including a field experiment and two comprehensive surveys of 112 experts and professionals and 292 members of the non-professionals. It aims to understand the early-stage growth and survival rates of the MFM plantings compared to conventional planting method, and measure perceptions of the method within the UK context. It assesses awareness, attitudes, concerns regarding its implementation and the composition of native and non-native tree species in MFM planting, in light of the rapidly changing climate in the UK. Key concerns include space requirements, costs, maintenance, ecological consequences, potential conflicts with existing habitats, risks of vandalism, tree species selection, and climate adaptability to future climate conditions. Ultimately, the study reveals that the MFM demonstrates relatively rapid early-stage growth and is generally supported, particularly for application in urban areas, though academic engagement remains limited. It also finds shifting attitudes toward native and non-native species selection especially in relation to climate adaptation. By contributing to the growing body of research on high density urban tree planting, this thesis provides critical insights for urban policymakers, practitioners, and environmental advocates regarding the implementation of urban tree-planting initiatives in UK cities, contributing to a greater understanding of sustainable and resilient urban environments for UK citizens in an evolving climate future.