For the 100th Anniversary: Construction is underway on the STIHL Tiny Forest in Stuttgart
STIHL Tiny Forest-As part of its 100th anniversary celebrations, STIHL launched a special project at its founding location in Stuttgart. The Construction of the company’s first Tiny Forest in Stuttgart-Nord began in the second week of July and in the coming months a highly biodiverse, densely planted mini forest will be established on a roughly 530-square-metre site behind the building of the employment agency Agentur für Arbeit (between Nordbahnhof- and Rosensteinstraße) replacing an area that is currently largely sealed.
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In addition to improving the local urban climate, the project aims to promote biodiversity and increase the quality of life in the city district. The project is being implemented together with the City of Stuttgart’s Garden, Cemeteries, and Forestry Office, The Tiny Group, and the Stuttgart Climate Innovation Fund.
“For a century, our family business has been deeply connected to Stuttgart and the region. That’s why we would like to take this anniversary as an opportunity to look back on the company’s history and make a sustainable contribution to the future of our founding location,” says Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of STIHL Advisory Board and Supervisory Board. “ The Tiny Forest will establish a green space in the heart of the city, generating long-term ecological benefits while enhancing the quality of life for local residents.”
The concept: Fast growth through the established Miyawaki method
Tiny Forests are small, densely planted forests created worldwide based on the established and recognised concept of Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. They can be created in urban areas and are about the size of two to three tennis courts. Predominantly native trees and shrub species are planted on nutrient-rich soil. Dense planting encourages natural competition among the plants and enables comparatively fast growth. After about four years of development and maintenance, the result will be a diverse, resilient ecosystem that is largely self-sustaining over the long term.
Tiny Forests contribute significantly to climate adaptation, especially in densely built-up city districts. In addition to promoting biodiversity and improving the local microclimate, Tiny Forests increase the soil’s water retention capacity and help counteract the urban heat island effect. These benefits are complemented by new habitats and green spaces where both wildlife and local communities can flourish.
“The Tiny Forest isn’t tiny at all – it’s big and magnificent. It’s a wonderful idea and a noticeable improvement to the air quality and quality of life in our Nordbahnhof neighbourhood,” says Dr Frank Nopper, Mayor of the City of Stuttgart.”
Upcoming Project Milestones
In July, workers will first remove the concrete slabs and the underlying gravel layer, followed by earthworks and soil preparation. A new, high-quality soil structure will ensure that the plants can grow well. According to the plans, the site will feature three planting areas with connecting pathways, along with a central seating area designed as a welcoming space to relax.
Planting of the Tiny Forest is scheduled for mid-October 2026. To ensure the Tiny Forest thrives, it will be monitored and maintained for about four years until a stable, largely self-sustaining ecosystem has developed. To anchor the project within the neighbourhood, the initiative focuses on community participation and environmental education: Students from the nearby Rosenstein School will be actively involved in planting, maintenance, and subsequent monitoring of the forest.
Starting point for the global STIHL Tiny Forests Initiative
The Tiny Forest in Stuttgart marks the kickoff of a long-term, global STIHL Tiny Forests Initiative. In the future, comparable projects will be developed across STIHL’s global manufacturing and sales network – adapted to the local conditions and created in cooperation with local partners.
“Stuttgart was intentionally chosen as the starting point for this initiative,” says Dr Nikolas Stihl. “Just as STIHL has evolved from a Stuttgart-based business into a globally active group of companies over the past 100 years, we also want to grow this initiative step by step and create new Tiny Forests in urban areas worldwide.”
Dr. Rita de Sousa e Silva, an urban ecology expert from Leiden University, will provide the scientific backing for the STIHL Tiny Forests Initiative. The non-profit organisation Miya forest e.V. is providing practical expertise and has already planted more than 40 Tiny Forests across Germany.
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