Through its Virginia Trees for Clean Water Program, the Virginia Department of Forestry granted the Town of Purcellville funding to enhance the mini-forest. This effort was initiated last year through the same source of funding. The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is continuing their support of this effort. There will be regular volunteer days to remove invasive plants and prepare the area for two plantings: one on October 11, 2025 to kick off the week-long Celebrate Purcellville and a second planting on April 18, 2026, close to Earth Day. The schedule of volunteer and planting days is below.

• Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Planting Day
• Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 10 a.m. to noon – Remove invasive plants and check the trees

The mini-forest is located on S. 20th Street between Makersmiths (785 S. 20th Street) and the Town Wastewater Plant (1001 S. 2th Street). It is on the same side of the street as both facilities.

The project team is following a protocol that was developed and refined over 4 decades by late Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, and has been implemented in cities around the world. It includes planting native trees, shrubs, and herbs at a high density in fertile soil to promote rapid growth.

The project will engage residents, community groups, students, and scouts to help plant and maintain the native trees, shrubs, and perennials; transform a field into a species-rich native forest to strengthen the health of the ecosystem; and encourage environmental education, recreation, and stewardship.