National Trust's Ambitious Plan to Restore the UK's Lost Rainforest

The National Trust in the UK is making significant strides in conservation by growing saplings in its largest nursery to restore a rainforest ecosystem that once blanketed much of the UK's west coast. This 59-hectare (146-acre) plot in Pembrokeshire will see the planting of trees such as oak, small-leaf lime, and wild service (Sorbus torminalis). The area is set to support a diverse range of mosses, liverworts, lichens, and ferns, providing a thriving habitat for various plants and animals.  The southern end of this site will connect with the remaining Celtic rainforest in the Gwaun Valley, known for its ancient and unique atmosphere, as described by Adam Dawson, a senior conservation officer at the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. The northern end will extend to open moorland, creating a continuous natural landscape. Additionally, workers will plant new trees near two standing stones, giving the impression that these monuments are set in clearings created by prehistoric people, blending history with conservation efforts. Lead ranger David Smith oversees the work at the Eryri tree nursery. Pic: National Trust Images & Paul Harris "I believe this period in history saw us connected to the land and seasons, which shaped our lives. We showed nature a respect we've now forgotten." ~ Words to be cherished! The site located two miles inland from Fishguard, lacks diversity. All fields consist of semi-improved rye grassland where sheep graze. The plan doesn't involve planting rainforest species across the entire site. Areas rich in wildlife and plant life that are wet will remain untouched. British rainforests thrive in regions with high rainfall high humidity, and small yearly temperature changes. People have destroyed most of these forests, which now cover less than 1% of the land. The Trellwyn Fach project is part of the Wildlife Trusts' 100-year Atlantic rainforest recovery programme. The insurance company Aviva supports this program with a £38m donation. Dawson hopes that the area will look like a natural woodland in a few decades. He said: "The aim is somebody walking through the site in 30 to 50 years won't say 'I wonder who planted this'. People will say 'What a lovely place'." "Our focus is on planting the right tree in the right place," said David Smith, the National Trust's lead ranger in Eryri.