We are supporting the restoration of Britain’s most biodiverse habitat
While we are familiar with the rich biodiversity and global significance of the world’s tropical rainforests, we are perhaps less acquainted with our own rainforest here in Britain. In fact, up to 20% of Britain was once covered in a rich rainforest – the Atlantic Temperate Rainforest, one of the richest, most biodiverse and culturally significant habitat types.
Over the centuries, Britain has lost a significant tract of this carbon-rich habitat, with now only 1% remaining. We are now committed to supporting the protection and restoration of this critical habitat; TENT is officially partnered with the Thousand Year Trust, whose mission is to catalyse the movement that triples the extent of Britain’s Atlantic Temperate Rainforest.
Into Britain’s Rainforests
Britain’s temperate rainforests hold more biodiversity and a greater diversity of life than almost any other terrestrial habitat on our islands. Our rainforests are one of the country’s richest and rarest ecosystems, thriving in the damp, mild climates of western Scotland, Wales, Devon, and Cornwall.
These ancient woodlands are home to extraordinary biodiversity, including oak, birch, hazel, mosses, lichens, liverworts, and ferns that flourish in the humid air. Wildlife such as red squirrels, pine martens, otters, bats, and woodland birds depend on these habitats for shelter and food. The rainforest also supports countless fungi and invertebrates, many found nowhere else in Britain. Despite its ecological importance, this globally rare habitat is threatened by deforestation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
“We are a rainforest people, who live in a rainforest nation. The Thousand Year Trust is on a mission to re-enchant people with the magic of our rainforests”
– Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, Executive Director
What does The Thousand Year Trust do?
Research
Thousand Year Trust helps scientists to develop cutting-edge research addressing the key challenges in the conservation of temperate rainforest landscapes. From our base in Cornwall, we work in close collaboration with leading international universities and local partners to facilitate interdisciplinary and action-driven research. Research is essential for understanding the dynamics of temperate rainforest ecosystems, assessing their threats, and developing effective management strategies to protect what little we have left.
Restoration
Thousand Year Trust is on a mission to expand the extent of our temperate rainforest. Efforts to restore the ecological integrity and resilience of degraded temperate rainforest landscapes must be guided by research that enhances our ecological understanding and evaluates restoration techniques. The success and sustainability of restoration efforts depend on community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and policy development. At TENT, we have a special interest in catalysing landscape-scale restoration initiatives; to this end, we have supported Thousand Year Trust to take on a Restoration Officer post, which will significantly expand the Cornwall Rainforest Project across 2026 and 2027. This project will aim to bring together 16 partner landowners in the Fowey catchment to devise plans and share techniques for large-scale temperate rainforest restoration.
Engagement
As part of The European Nature Trust’s interest in Connecting People to Nature, we are supportive of The Thousand Year Trust’s work to re-enchant people with the magic of rainforests. Spending time in temperate rainforests has been shown to have positive effects on our physical and mental health and wellbeing. Beyond supporting biodiversity and climate change mitigation, our enchanting rainforests also provide vital ecosystem services like water purification and soil stabilisation. Moreover, they present valuable socio-economic opportunities for environmental stewardship, income generation, and the preservation of ecological integrity for future generations.
Connect with the rainforest
The Thousand Year Trust is on a mission to catalyse the movement that will triple the extent of Britain’s Atlantic temperate rainforest. There are many ways to collaborate, including through volunteering, research and partnership. Explore The Thousand Year Trust’s website below and get involved with temperate rainforest protection and restoration.
