Tirupur: Come to Kulleygoundapalayam near Avinashi and you will feel spellbound by an unusually dense green patch of land in the village. Imagine the surprise when you learn that the 'forest' is just one year old.A non-governmental organisation had set up the small forest on the 22-cent land with the support of local villagers. Now, even the villagers are surprised by the rate the trees grew on adarvanam (dense forest), some reaching a height of 15ft within a year.Kalam Arakkattalai, an NGO, had employed the Miyawaki method to establish the thick greenery. As many as 63 species of trees and shrubs were planted on the 18 cents of land adjacent to an irrigation tank initially. More than 2,200 seedlings were planted within a gap of just two feet."We wanted to set up an ecological system, where animals, reptiles, birds and insects find their space for all of their activities right from feeding to roosting within the small place. The plant species we selected were mostly native. Many are fruit-bearing, like Indian fig, tulip, pomegranate, guava and water apple," said one of the founders of the NGO."Even we did not expect this much growth after just a year. As the trees have such a dense growth, it is not easy for people to enter the forest. It would become more dense in future. We have found many reptiles including snakes inside adarvanam. Some birds have set up nests and even laid eggs," said a youth from the village.Since the spot already has a tank brimming with water, a natural food chain may come into existence just like the one in a tropical forest. The success has inspired the members of the NGO to extend the green cover on an additional four cents, where more than 600 seedlings of 75 species were planted.The NGO that began work to set up another adarvanam in Thoravalur, which was inaugurated by governor Banwarilal Purohit recently, was overwhelmed by the support of Kulleygoundapalayam residents. They now plan to set up a semi-automated sewage treatment plant, which will treat sewage water from the 70-odd houses and also feed the tank.Though such a small forest needs nurturing just for two years, the NGO plans to maintain it for three years, so that it reaches its full potential, the members said.The Miyawaki method of planting trees involves the planting of a number of different types of trees close together in a small pit. It enriches the green cover and reinforces the richness of the land. This will lead to co-existence of plants. Each plant draws from the other vital nutrients and grow to become strong.

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