In my twenty-some years of miniature gaming, I've tried lots of ways to make my table greener at less expense and I think I've hit upon it.

Materials

First, gather up your twigs and keep the bark on them; boy, does this look real or what? They don't even have to branch but those work nice too. Now, depending on your scale (I use 15mm), cut the twigs into approximately four inch sections, these will be the trunks. On the upper half of the trunks, give an ample coating of the hot glue, careful not to bum yourself, and press the lichen into place. Ta-Da tree. I make about 15-20 at one sitting. Make sure the bottom is flat by using a razor knife or pruning shears.

Now move on to the bases. I pre-paint my balsa wood a whole board at a time and allow it to dry; if you use the thicker stock or bass wood, it won't warp. For single trees I cut a 2 X 2 square and using the glue gun, mount them in the exact middle, "X" marks the spot. The hot glue sets quickly, so don't delay. For larger groupings, use 4 X 2 or 5 X 2 bases with the trees scattered about.

Balance may be an issue; put one on each comer or down the centerline. Next, add nice touches such as fallen trees or rocks (cat litter), old fighting positions, and then allow to dry.

To finish, spread white glue over the entire base and pour on the flocking. I use a plastic container that I actually put the stands into the container and then swish it around and set it aside to dry. After it dries, you have started your won forest.

This idea would work for Peach Orchards, haunted magical forests or Belgian woods. Happy gaming!