Latest reports suggest that the first step towards creating a Celtic rainforest – a now extremely rare habitat that once covered large swathes of the west coast of Britain – has been completed in Devon.
More than 2,500 native trees have been planted so far this winter at Devon Wildlife Trust’s Bowden Pillars site, above the Dart valley and close to the green-minded market town of Totnes.
In decades to come, these trees – oak, rowan, alder, hazel, birch, willow and holly – will form a temperate rainforest, sometimes known as a Celtic or Atlantic rainforest.
These rainforests used to cover large parts of Britain, especially its western regions, acting as vital carbon stores by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as well as being abundant in wildlife, but after many centuries of destruction they now amount to just 1% of the country’s land area.
More than 100 volunteers of all ages devoted hundreds of hours to planting the trees on the 30-hectare (75-acre) site of what were sheep-grazed fields. Eventually the landscape will have 70% tree cover, with the rest becoming open glades, woodland rides and wildflower-rich meadows.
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The charity plans to plant a further 4,500 trees by the end of this winter, bringing the total to 7,000, with more to follow in subsequent years.
Claire Inglis, a nature reserve officer at Devon Wildlife Trust who is leading the Bowden Pillars planting project for the charity, said: “It’s been a winter in which we’ve battled storms and snow to plant more than 2,500 trees and begin the transformation of Bowden Pillars to a place which offers a home to nature and is vital resource for local communities.
“Crucial in this transformation have been local people who have worked so hard in all conditions to get the trees in the ground. We’ve had youth groups visit to help us, along with people from local communities and our loyal band of south Devon volunteers.
“The mature temperate rainforest will take several decades to become established, but the gains for nature will be much swifter. The mix of young trees in among grass pastures and hedges, along with our commitment not to use pesticides and artificial fertilisers, will be better for local moths, butterflies and bees, along with farmland birds such as yellowhammers and barn owls. It will be fascinating to see how it develops.”
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
