A major tree-planting effort in Devon aims to establish a new rainforest, with 7,000 trees planned.
Devon: A big tree-planting project is happening. They’re planting thousands of native trees to create a new rainforest.
This winter, 2,500 trees have been planted at Bowden Pillars, near Totnes. Local volunteers of all ages have helped out.
They’ve planted oak, rowan, alder, hazel, birch, willow, and holly. The goal is to turn 30 hectares of fields into a forest.
Eventually, they want 70% tree cover, with open spaces and wildflower meadows. By the end of winter, they plan to plant 4,500 more trees.
In total, that will be 7,000 trees, with more to come in the future. This will help create a temperate rainforest.
These rainforests used to cover much of Britain but now only make up 1% of the land. They’re important for carbon storage and wildlife.
Birds like pied flycatchers and woodcock thrive in these forests. The damp conditions also support many plants and fungi.
Claire Inglis from Devon Wildlife Trust is leading the project. She’s excited about turning Bowden Pillars into a wildlife habitat.
She mentioned the hard work of local volunteers, saying they’ve battled storms to plant the trees. Their efforts are crucial for this project.
Many groups have joined in, including youth groups and local residents. It’s a community effort to restore nature.
While it will take decades for the rainforest to fully develop, benefits for nature will come sooner. The mix of young trees will help local wildlife.
Claire also noted that avoiding pesticides will benefit pollinators and birds. It’s exciting to see how the area will change.
This project is part of a larger effort by The Wildlife Trusts to restore rainforests across the UK, supported by Aviva.
Similar initiatives are happening in places like Cornwall and Scotland. Aviva’s Chief Sustainability Officer is thrilled about the project.
She highlighted the importance of creating new habitats for the community and the environment. It’s a step towards tackling climate change.
The planting is done sustainably. Each sapling is protected with biodegradable tubes instead of plastic. They’re also using locally sourced seeds.
Helen Aldis from Moor Trees is happy to provide native trees for the project. Volunteers have played a key role in every step.
They hope these trees will thrive in the new rainforest. Public access to Bowden Pillars is limited now, but plans for education are in the works.
