We’re building an Ancestral Forest

Fast facts: 10,000 square meters, 30,000 trees, 46 native species

We’re designing an ancestral forest, which is different from planting one. What does that mean?

The regenerative power of nature has long been seeding our ideas and inspiring the earthen materials we use to bring them to life. In our journey towards creating a more circular ecosystem onsite, we seek to grow what we use and give back to the land that sustains us.

Together with the rewilding experts at SUGi and a local forest planting team from Baansuan Onsorn, we’re designing a 10 rai (4 acre / 1.6 hectare) interactive sensory forest using the Miyawaki Method that will become home to an abundance of functional and medicinal species.

But, more importantly, the pocket forest will also be a place that encourages a deeper connection with the natural world through the intersection of cultural activities like art, design, music, architecture and performances. The forest will also become home to peaceful meditative areas, buildings and art installations that blend with the forest to allow immersion and deepening of the abiding connection between people and nature.

“To be able to give back to nature is so powerful. I look forward to growing our new forest while bringing Wonderfruit even closer to nature.” — Pranitan Phornprapha, Wonderfruit Founder

We imagine a future where people live more closely with nature. We invite our community to play, to grow and to learn from our Ancestral Forest, which in the years to come, will inform more of our programming and provide a canvas for limitless possibilities.

Through rewilding, we can restore the web of life and heal both our inner and outer world.

Meet SUGi

An official partner of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, SUGi is a rewilding organisation with the mission to restore degraded landscapes by creating biodiverse and resilient forest habitats with the active involvement of local communities around the world.

Forest Maker: James Godfrey-Faussett

About the Miyawaki Method

SUGi Pocket Forests are planted using the innovative approach of afforestation originated from Prof. Akira Miyawaki’s desire to restore depleted ecosystems using what he termed ‘native forests of native trees’. By mimicking the layering of ancient forests, the Miyawaki method of afforestation allows for the rapid formation of a dense forest canopy and inter-linked biodiversity formation on even small ‘pockets’ of space in the midst of busy urban areas.

About Khao Khieo

Khao Khieo is the last remnant of evergreen primary forest that once blanketed the entire Chonburi province. This biodiversity-rich biome still contains pockets of untouched forest; ranging from the wet meadow land, through the lowland evergreen forests and finally the upland evergreen cloud forests.

The uniqueness of Khao Khieo was finally recognised by the Thai Government in 1974 and the remaining area protected as a wildlife sanctuary.