Orange aged care residents plant their own pocket forest

Planting of trees and shrubs started on 26 September 2025 at Mission Australia’s Orange-based aged care facility — set to become the first in Australia to be home to a community pocket forest. Together with staff and volunteers, residents are creating the forest in the grounds of the Benjamin Short Grove facility, with 900 local endemic trees and shrubs to feature across a 300 m² area.

Also known as ‘tiny forests’, community pocket forests are planted using the Miyawaki method, and with plants placed close together — in a small area of specially treated soil to encourage them to grow upwards in a short time — are an innovative way to increase the amount of greenery in a space. Residents will benefit from the cooling effects of the forest’s tree canopy, cleaning the air and serving as a home for wildlife.

Being one of Mission Australia’s three aged care facilities in NSW, Benjamin Short Grove 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. This project — a partnership with environmental organisations Carbon Positive Australia and The Groundswell Collective — aims to help residents stay cool in summer and foster a connection with nature and their community.

“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,” said Stephen Brooker, Mission Australia General Manager Aged Care.

“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.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Zinkevych