Cornwall Wildlife Trust win national award for rainforest restoration project
Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been recognised with a prestigious Pride in Our Planet Award for its groundbreaking Temperate Rainforest Restoration Project. It was one of over 320 nominations from across the United Kingdom.
The award celebrates those leading transformative action in climate resilience and nature restoration, marking a significant achievement for the Trust in its mission to revive one of Britain’s rarest and most treasured habitats.
Nominated by South East Cornwall MP Anna Gelderd, the project has earned praise from the judging panel for its comprehensive plans to support carbon renewal, enhance biodiversity, and community engagement through rainforest restoration efforts.
Chaired by Climate Minister Katie White MP, the panel of judges comprised prominent figures from environmental, business, and media sectors and selected winners based on their impactful contributions.
Alison Smith, Project Manager for the Temperate Rainforest Project at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, expressed her gratitude upon receiving the award.
"We are delighted to receive this recognition for temperate rainforest restoration," Smith said. "These precious habitats are often overlooked, and this award highlights the urgency and importance of our restoration work."
The project forms part of Aviva's £38 million UK-wide Temperate Rainforest Restoration Programme, delivered in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts.
The Temperate Rainforest Restoration Project
The Temperate Rainforest Restoration Project, underpinned by a 50-year commitment with Aviva, is focused on regenerating rainforest ecosystems in West Looe through a mix of tree planting, natural regeneration, and strategic habitat management.
Since starting work last winter, the project has successfully planted 4,600 native trees, with the dedicated support of volunteers, local schoolchildren, and community partners.
With only around 1% of the UK’s original temperate rainforest habitat remaining, initiatives such as this are of growing importance for natural conservation and climate change mitigation.
Looking ahead, the project is set to enter a new phase this autumn, with plans to establish an additional 25 hectares of woodland.
The trust intends to plant another 18,000 native trees, maintaining collaborative efforts with schools, community groups, businesses, and volunteers.
Over the next century, the project is anticipated to take in approximately the equivalent of 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide - roughly 72 entire commercial aircraft flights from Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) to New York (JFK) .
It will also enhance natural flood management and build resilience to extreme weather conditions.
Its broader aims also include improvements in water quality and increased opportunities for education and skills development.
Restoration efforts extend to the conservation of rare epiphytes—such as lichens, mosses, liverworts, and ferns—that are crucial for biodiversity and carbon storage.
These species face threats from invasive species, inadequate woodland management, and ash dieback, with conservation work addressing woodland structure to maintain necessary conditions for epiphyte survival.
The Cornwall Wildlife Trust programme's long-term funding aims to adopt a landscape-scale approach, with conditions vital for the sustainable recovery of temperate rainforests in the UK.