About

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. Our vision is a world where wood and trees thrive for people and nature. Our work within the south west temperate rainforest area focuses on restoring, creating and protecting the precious rainforest and inspiring others to value this precious habitat and join us on that journey. Through creation, habitat restoration, natural flood management, and species recovery, we aim to rejuvenate these ecosystems for future generations. The blogs and information found here will tell you more about this work.

We'd like to say a big thank you to our members, supporters and funders for your historical and ongoing support of our work.

OUR VISION

A thriving, resilient south-west temperate rainforest that has expanded and is protected, restored, and celebrated for its unique biodiversity and ecological importance.

Our values

  • Man examining plant with magnifying glass in forest

    We create

    We are part of the South West Temperate Rainforest Alliance and together we want to triple the area of temperate rainforest in the SW region by 2050.

  • Two people in a forest with moss-covered trees, near a stream, pointing and smiling.

    We protect

    We want to provide the conditions that will enable species that are missing or in serious decline from the temperate rainforest to return and thrive. They are essential to supporting the health and function of this ecosystem.

  • Two people in a grassy field, one filming with a camera and the other handling net bags next to colorful plastic tubs.

    We restore

    We aim to restore our rainforests by removing conifers, shading species and invasive non-native species, rewetting them and buffering them to make them resilient to future challenges such as climate change.

  • Small black and white bird perched on a tree branch with a blurred green background.

    We care

    Creating thriving habitats for communities to connect with nature.

Dense, dark green forest with tall trees and thick undergrowth, mist in the background.

Threats to temperate rainforests

The rainforest was once a well-used community resource, providing timber, charcoal and tannin for tanning leather. But over time it has suffered long term declines through clearances, chronic overgrazing, and conversion to other uses. This has left a small fragmented areas that are isolated from each other.

Current major threats include:

  • invasive species

  • disease like ash dieback

  • high levels of grazing, primarily from deer

  • changing climate

Find out what we are doing to remove these threats by clicking the button below.

Temperate rainforests need

  • Large tree with twisting branches covered in moss and surrounded by lush green foliage and ferns.

    Light

    Removing invasive shading plants, and adjusting light levels to create the conditions for native species to establish and thrive.

  • Aerial view of dense green mangrove forest and blue water shoreline

    Water

    We want to provide the conditions that will enable species that are missing or in serious decline from the temperate rainforest to return and thrive. They are essential to supporting the health and function of this ecosystem.

  • Close-up of green moss with dew droplets on spore capsules, blurred background.

    Air

    Lichens are indicators of good air quality and temperate rainforest habitat. We are surveying all of our woods for lichens.