More than 150 native trees and shrubs, planted at high density using the Miyawaki method, turned a corner of the school into a forest designed to grow fast and regenerate the soil. But what sets this island apart is what happened after the planting: the space became a genuine living laboratory, where students and teachers follow processes that usually stay invisible — soil regeneration, water retention, microclimate regulation, interaction between species.
This is also where the project's first experiment of its kind is running: a trial of clay pots for underground irrigation, an ancient technology that releases water slowly and directly at the roots, reducing evaporation. It is the first attempt to understand how to optimise water use in dense urban forests in a Mediterranean climate, and the results will help decide whether the technique is replicated in other islands.
The project grew out of a collaborative process between students, teachers and local partners, and today serves as a case study of how a public school can actively contribute to climate adaptation and hands-on environmental education.