Mission Australia's aged care facility in Orange will be the first in the country to be home to a community pocket forest. This project is made possible thanks to a partnership with environmental organisations Carbon Positive Australia and The Groundswell Collective that aims to help residents stay cool in summer and foster a connection with nature and their community.
The community pocket forest will be planted by residents, staff and volunteers in the grounds of the national charity's Benjamin Short Grove facility on 26 September 2025 and will feature 900 local endemic trees and shrubs across a 300m2 area. Residents will benefit from the cooling effects of the forest's tree canopy, which will clean the air and serve as a home for wildlife.
Community pocket forests, also known as tiny forests, are planted using the Miyawaki method and are an innovative way to increase the amount of greenery in a space, with plants placed close together in a small area of specially treated soil to encourage them to grow upwards quickly.
Mission Australia General Manager Aged Care Stephen Brooker said, "Thanks to this partnership with Carbon Positive Australia and The Groundswell Collective, our residents will have beautiful native greenery on their doorstep in just a few months, the air they breathe will be cleaner and they'll have respite from the heat during summer.
"Many of our residents have had lives filled with challenges, including experiences of homelessness. We hope the forest will be a healing space where they can connect with nature and each other. Residents will be encouraged to take part in the planting and to care for the forest as it grows.
"This initiative aligns with Mission Australia's goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and our commitment to helping people who are vulnerable to climate risks manage the impact on their lives."
Carbon Positive Australia Program Lead Stephanie Poly said, "We hope that this community pocket forest project, the first of its kind at an aged care facility, will reduce social isolation among residents and improve their physical and mental wellbeing as they connect with nature and each other.
"Residents will be able to care for the forest and see it grow, taking ownership of the plants and engaging in nature-based activities.
"For us, these forests represent more than just planting trees. They're a way for communities to drive local climate action and build climate resilience together."
The Groundswell Collective Founder Anna Noon said, "We're excited to partner with Mission Australia on this community pocket forest project. The benefits of community pocket forests are numerous and as our climate continues to change, they will play an important role in cooling the areas we live in.
"The forest will be home to nearly 1,000 local endemic trees and shrubs, greatly enhancing the biodiversity of the local area and bringing life to an unused strip of grass at Benjamin Short Grove.
"We look forward to seeing this forest grow and hearing about the impact it has on both residents and staff."
About Benjamin Short Grove: Benjamin Short Grove is one of Mission Australia's three aged care facilities in NSW. It accommodates up to 60 people from the Orange region and surrounds who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness or are financially or socially disadvantaged.
