2020 – Planting Miyawaki in Paris – Porte d’Asnières

Avant intervention

2 ans plus tard

Planting period : november 2020

m²

plants

volunteers

Planting carried out within the framework of a tripartite partnership, on the initiative of the Les Hauts de Malesherbes shared garden association, as part of a call for projects by the City of Paris’ Parisculteurs.

As the Hauts de Malesherbes association was unable to develop a plot adjoining its site due to its steep slope, it was decided to replant densely to create ecological continuity and provide more food for the bees of the future beehives to be installed in the garden. The mini-forest is therefore part of an urban agriculture project in this context.

This planting took place during a period of health crisis in France, and was only made possible thanks to the kind collaboration of the City of Paris, which enabled us to continue our activities despite this context. The association has put in place a protocol that complies with health and safety requirements, to guarantee the safety of our volunteers.

Planting location: 17th arrondissement of Paris

The plantation is located at the end of a spit of land, between a gate of an SNCF depot and housing. Creepers covered the gate before planting, and we chose not to remove them so as not to disturb the many birds that nest there every year. This choice had an impact on the monitoring of the site, which had to be frequent: the nearby lianas posed a choking threat to the young trees, towards which they constantly extended their tendrils, as can be seen in the photos below.

The choice of species has been slightly adapted for this site, to favor trees that will grow less tall, given the proximity of the plantation to the buildings (part offices, where the windows are high enough not to be affected, and part housing, with lower windows).

This site has no official address, but is located between 2, boulevard du Fort de Vaux, 75017 Paris and rue Stéphane Grappelli.

GPS coordinates : 48.89320,2.30407

The plantating in pictures

Before planting: site preparation

Click on the image to see the caption 😉

Condition of the site prior to our action: the ground is still full of sizeable rubble. Vegetation is already present, consisting of a few honeysuckles and creepers (knotweed).

Volunteers are busy removing rubble and anything else that might get in the way of planting in the soil. The City's agents will take over to remove the rubble and waste from the site before the soil amendment operations.

Example of a very granular wasteland: in addition to stones, there's also garbage and sometimes metal structures. In the midst of this unappetizing picture, however, we sometimes find some nice surprises.

Can you see it (at the top of the photo) 😉

Vous la voyez (en haut de la photo) ? 😉

When we tell you that there's work to be done before planting, we're not just saying that! This volunteer is removing a metal wick buried in the ground, probably left there when the neighboring building was under construction...

A few days before the planting, once the ground has been cleaned, amended and levelled, the volunteers mark out planting zones using string. These zones will be used to divide up the work of the groups, staggered over the two days of planting.

Each area is then assigned a number of plants, which are distributed beforehand to ensure an even mix throughout the plot. Everyone will plant a little of everything. The bare-root plants are protected under straw, and only the few plants in cups are visible here.

Planting in 2020

Click on the image to see the caption 😉

Arriving at the site in the cool of the morning: getting the equipment ready to welcome the volunteers

Let's get started!

Photo ©Clément Dorval, Ville de Paris

Volunteers here practice pralinage: before planting the bare-root trees, they are soaked in a mixture of water and soil and a little soil improver, pralin, to protect the roots and enable the trees to take root more easily.

Photo © Clément Dorval for Ville de Paris

A bucket of praline (see previous photo). Doesn't it look yummy?

Planting is a place for exchanging knowledge, sharing and learning. Here, a Boomforest volunteer discusses the role of earthworms found in the soil with neighborhood children who have come to plant.

La plantation sur une pente raide n'est pas facile et demande à chacun de s'adapter à l'autre. Heureusement, les agents de la Direction des Espaces Verts et de l'Environnement, qui ont tenu à s'impliquer physiquement dans le projet, sont rodés en la matière ! C'était une joie de les voir sur le terrain après avoir accompagné la mise en place du projet.

The constraint of hosting volunteers in small groups enabled us to provide better support for each individual, and to see the emergence of a sometimes very strong sense of cohesion!

After two days, the place is completely transformed and the trees are well on their way to growing!

Evolution over time

In the summer following planting, we noticed how dynamic and threatening the vines growing on the gate (left) were to the trees, which we found buried under a tangle of knotweed, bindweed and hops! Let's get to work!

A few hours later, we had a clearer picture... Phew! To be continued...

One year after planting, the density is still the same, the trees have grown well and are in good health.

The landscape is changing visibly, and it's well worth the effort of weeding!

The trees are growing steadily, and it's easier for them to get their heads above the creepers... the plant battle rages on, but they're better armed! Maintenance is still necessary, however.

Almost three years old: you can see the density, the variety of plants and the layered appearance, with the shrubs at the front and the taller trees starting to rise above.

Coexistence of several species of tree native to the area: can you recognize them?