"If done right, you’re getting a functional ecosystem in just a few years."
Doug Tallamy
"If done right, you’re getting a functional ecosystem in just a few years."
Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy
Native trees and shrubs planted densely in prepared soil, with no raking or mowing underneath, can provide many ecosystem benefits.
Even if you only have a couple trees to plant, if you cluster them with other native species (shrubs, flowers and/or groundcover, instead of grass underneath), you can create a beneficial ecosystem.
PocketForests.org is a project of the Tree Town Coalition, which is made up of volunteers from organizations such as the Ann Arbor chapter of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, Ann Arbor Wild Ones, and the Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow Project. We are building demonstration Pocket Forests and Eco-Islands, which we hope will inspire others to build their own, and are developing educational materials to spread the word about their benefits. Listen to our 2025 WEMU public radio interview here, and our 2026 interview here. We were featured in an article in HGTV's online magazine, and we were awarded Washtenaw County's Tree Conservationist of the Year!
Even if you only have room for a few trees and shrubs!
For high resolution of flyer below, click here
Can a pocket forest thrive in less than ideal conditions similar to that of many local backyards (small, partially shaded, near a walnut tree, with lots of deer pressure--and using only a very low budget)? We'll see!
Red oval marks the site of the pocket forest at County Farm Park, just past the Project Grow gardens.
Feel free to print/distribute
Contact us below for print-ready files

Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund our mission. Our 2024 supporters are listed at this link. 2025 contributors include the Washtenaw County Conservation District, the Elizabeth Dean Trust Fund, the Dexter Garden Club and Blue Line Media, Inc. Thank-you, all!
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.