A powerful new green space is coming to Heber Down Conservation Area in Whitby. Little Forests Durham, in partnership with Trees for Life, the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) and the Town of Whitby, is proud to announce the planting of a new Mini Forest – a dense, fast-growing native forest designed to restore biodiversity, improve climate resilience, and connect communities with nature.
Mini Forests (also known as Little Forests), based on the Miyawaki Method, are tiny, fast-growing ecosystems, small enough to be planted almost anywhere land is available – parks, schools, community spaces and neighbourhoods. Mini forests emphasize the use of dense plantings, diverse locally native plant species, soil restoration and preparation, and a multilayered design to mimic the features of a native forest which over time, will create a wildlife-rich woodland.
Community members are invited to be part of this forest from the very beginning.
The first public event will be a Site Preparation Day on:
📆 Saturday, August 9, 2025
🕙 9:00 a.m.
📍 Heber Down Conservation Area, 5000 Cochrane St, Whitby, ON
🌱 Register here: HeberDownMiniForestSitePrep.eventbrite.com
Volunteers of all ages will help get the mini-forest site ready by clearing out debris and making the area ready for planting.
“The Town of Whitby is very excited for Whitby’s first official ‘Little Forest’. The creation of the Little Forest at the Heber Down Conservation Area is one of many actions the Town is taking this year towards the following action in our Climate Emergency Response Plan 3.1 – Conserve, expand, and protect natural spaces and urban forest for flood risk reduction, cooling and improved human well-being.” – Sarah Shields, Project Manager – Sustainability & Climate Change & Strategic Initiatives at the Town of Whitby.
Project Highlights:
- Location: Heber Down Conservation Area, 5000 Cochrane St, Whitby, ON
- Site Prep Date: August 9, 2025
- Number of species: Over 600 native tree and shrub species in 200 square metres
- Planting date: October 18, 2025
- Community partners: Little Forests Durham, Trees for Life, the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA), the Town of Whitby, the Region of Durham, and the Rotary Club of Whitby-Sunrise.