At EnviroCentre, we believe that climate action starts right in our communities and sometimes, right in our schoolyards.
In partnership with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and Forêt Capitale Forest, with generous funding from the Josette Robertson and Joan Johnston Family Foundation and support from Green Communities Canada, EnviroCentre proudly led the implementation of Ottawa’s first schoolyard Tiny Forest at York Street Public School. What began as a vision for a greener, more vibrant space has grown into a multi-phase transformation that’s connecting students with nature, enhancing learning environments, and building climate resilience in one of our city’s most urban neighbourhoods.
Watch our short documentary that captures this transformation
A Vision for Equity, Nature, and Community
Located in the heart of Lowertown, York Street Public School serves a diverse student body with limited access to green space. The Schoolyard Greening Project was developed to address that gap: improving tree equity, enhancing student wellbeing, and creating immersive opportunities to connect with the natural world, right outside the classroom door.
The centrepiece of this initiative is the Tiny Forest: a dense, biodiverse planting of native trees, shrubs, and groundcover species, designed using the Miyawaki method. These miniature ecosystems:
- Increase urban tree canopy and biodiversity
- Absorb stormwater
- Mitigate the urban heat island effect
- Serve as outdoor learning spaces
- Strengthen community connection
Text continues below these project photos
Photo Credit: Stephanie Benoit/EnviroCentre
EnviroCentre’s Role
From initial visioning to hands-on implementation, EnviroCentre has led the project across two key phases:
Phase 1: Planning for Possibility
We worked closely with students, school staff, partners, and the community to reimagine what a greener, more accessible schoolyard could look like, prioritizing innovation, inclusivity, and environmental impact.
Phase 2: Bringing the Vision to Life
Over the past year, EnviroCentre has coordinated the installation of multiple greening elements:
- A thriving Tiny Forest
- Two outdoor classrooms
- Pollinator gardens with raised beds
- A living fence line
- A student-painted wooden mural to beautify the yard
- And accessible seating to ensure the space is welcoming to all students
We also ensured the health of the Tiny Forest by working closely with our partner, Forêt Capitale Forest, to enrich the soil months in advance of planting, organize summer maintenance, and provide ongoing support.
Beyond the physical changes, this project created lasting learning opportunities. We collaborated with teachers to integrate the Tiny Forest into classroom curriculum and help students explore climate, ecology, and environmental stewardship in real time.
Celebrating Community and Collective Impact
On May 15, students at York Street Public School led a celebration to recognize the community partners who have supported the school over the past three years. From schoolyard greening and classroom upgrades to cultural programming and a community kitchen, the event honoured the collaboration that has enriched student life.
EnviroCentre was proud to join funders, partners and school staff in reflecting on what has been accomplished together.
Text continues below these May 15 Celebration photos.
Photo Credit: Gabe Rivett-Carnac/EnviroCentre
What’s Next?
The forest planted at York Street is designed to thrive for generations, and the students who helped bring it to life will carry that experience forward in how they think about the environment and their place in it.
With the continued support of community partners, EnviroCentre is committed to expanding the Tiny Forest movement across Ottawa, helping schools take meaningful climate action, one green space at a time.
Interested in bringing a Tiny Forest to your school?
Contact us to learn how we can help!