Rainforest project wins national recognition award

A project working towards restoring a temperate rain forest has won a national award - coming first from 320 nominations.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust won the Restoring Britain award at the Pride in Our Planet Awards for working towards restoring the temperate rainforest in West Looe whilst supporting carbon renewal, wildlife and local communities.

The trust said its Temperate Rainforest Restoration Project began last winter with 4,600 native trees being planted so far with the help of volunteers, local schoolchildren and community partners.

Alison Smith from the trust said the temperate rainforest was amongst the world's rarest and most threatened habitats.

"We are absolutely delighted to receive this award - temperate rainforest is one of our most precious yet overlooked habitats, and this recognition highlights both its importance and the urgent need for restoration," she said.

The trust said the next phase of restoration would begin in the autumn with plans to plant an additional 18,000 native trees.

It said over the next century the project was predicted to collect approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and that it would restore existing rainforest plants and algae including lichens, mosses, liverworts and ferns.

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