Growing a Greener Future: Plan it Wild and Aspetuck Land Trust Join Forces for Micro-Forests in Bridgeport

Plan it Wild, is excited to announce a partnership with Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT), a renowned organization dedicated to preserving Connecticut's green spaces. ATL has been awarded a state grant through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Grant program. As one of the 12 recipients, ALT will be implementing climate smart practices with the grant, and we are proud to join forces with them.

Together with Aspetuck Land Trust, we will be spearheading the creation of densely planted micro-forests on seven public school sites in Bridgeport. Utilizing our expertise in native-landscaping, we will be implementing the Miyawaki Method, a unique forestry climate-smart practice developed over 40 years ago. This method involves densely planting a diverse array of native species, fostering collaboration between plants, fungi, and soil microbes to recreate the relationships and succession of a natural forest. The result will be fast-growing forests with high survival rates and numerous environmental benefits for years to come.

The grant funds will support various aspects of the project, including site testing, baseline measurements, site preparation, micro-forest design, native plant sourcing and installation, as well as organizing STEM programming with the participating schools. This partnership allows us to bring our expertise and experience to Bridgeport, addressing environmental challenges and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Working hand in hand with Aspetuck Land Trust, we are thrilled to contribute to the expansion of ALT's Green Corridor. This connected landscape of conserved open spaces and biodiverse backyards was established in 2020 as a 40,000-acre concentrated study area, and now it includes urban spaces like Bridgeport since 2022. Our collaboration will strengthen this corridor and enhance its environmental impact.

Through our partnership with Aspetuck Land Trust, we are dedicated to creating micro-forests, reducing the American lawn, and contributing to the preservation and conservation of open spaces in Bridgeport, Westchester County, and beyond.