When you think of Cornwall you will most likely picture beautiful beaches and stunning coastlines. But what if we told you that if you turn your eyes inland you will find the remnants of rainforests just waiting to be restored to their former glory? Long ago, temperate rainforests used to thrive across Cornwall and were home to a huge range of amazing biodiversity. Now only small, fragmented patches are left and even these continue to be threatened by air pollution, overgrazing and invasive species.

It is time to restore this lost habitat in Cornwall and we need your help. In the early 2000s, West Muchlarnick Farm was left as a legacy to Cornwall Wildlife Trust with the wish that the land be used to benefit wildlife. With 150 acres at the site and a small area already covered in temperate rainforest it is the ideal place to begin to restore the temperate rainforest habitat, which will enable a wide variety of wildlife to thrive. Our aim is to connect the land around this site through a combination of planting native trees, allowing for natural regeneration, and protecting native species to bring back this lost ecosystem. This is a long-term project and we are looking to raise £50,000 from our public appeal to help kickstart work on this reserve.

So what exactly is a temperate rainforest?

Temperate rainforests are unique habitats characterised by a mild and wet climate. They grow in areas strongly influenced by the sea (cue: Cornwall!) as the oceanic climate provides high humidity, regular rainfall, and mild, stable temperatures. Visiting one of these special places can feel like you are being transported into a mythical world. Picture trees towering above you, sunlight filtering in through the leaves above, luscious green moss carpeting the ground beneath your feet, and woodland birds singing. The high humidity of this habitat means it is teeming with a dazzling array of plant life so if you are into your lichens, bryophytes, ferns, and rare fungi, then this is the place for you.

That does sound interesting… but why should I care about restoring it?

But don’t we need this land for farming?

At Cornwall Wildlife Trust we actively recognise the high importance of food production and the work of our farming community. We are continuing to expand our farm advisory work to benefit both long-term food production and biodiversity. For restoring temperate rainforest we would avoid using grade 1 or 2 agricultural land and only use sites where there are limitations for food production. Dedicating land that allows nature to thrive is essential for the future of our wildlife and the pressing need for bigger and better sites in Cornwall was highlighted in our State of Nature report.

Ok I’m in. How can I help?

This appeal marks the beginning of a 50 year project to restore temperate rainforest to Cornwall. We are looking to raise £50,000 to kick-start our work and we need your help. Your donation could help pay for tree planting, fencing (to prevent deer from destroying saplings), Nofence electronic collars (for grazing animals), staff time, and important monitoring and survey work.

We also need your help to spread the word about our appeal. Sharing the message on your social channels is a vital way to increase people’s awareness about the importance of temperate rainforest - and it’s completely free! To help you get started we’ve made some shareable social media templates for you: