Moor Trees has been working closely in partnership with The Duchy of Cornwall, along with Natural England, Woodland Trust and tenant farmers, to expand one of the South West’s last remaining examples of temperate rainforest, Wistman’s Wood National Nature Reserve on Dartmoor.
A group of volunteers have joined forces to plant 450 Wistman’s Wood provenance saplings as the first stage of the long term ambition to create a “mirror” of the existing ancient woodland. The nearby site has been chosen due to the similar terrain of scattered granite boulders, and it’s hoped it will become a temperate rainforest of the future. Watch this short film about the planting day.
Dartmoor is home to globally rare temperate rainforest
Temperate rainforests are globally rare habitats with 90% lost since the Bronze age, resulting in only 8% remaining in Devon and Cornwall[1].
Wistman’s Wood is home to rare species of lichens and moss (c) Moor Trees
Wistman’s Wood is an ancient Oak woodland that covers over seven acres of the West Dart Valley on Dartmoor, Devon. It is a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in recognition of its significance for nature conservation.
Geraint Richards, Head Forester to the Duchy of Cornwall and to His Majesty The King, said: “The work at the iconic Wistman’s Wood is a flagship for the wider work that the Duchy of Cornwall and its many partners on Dartmoor have been working on in recent years. This shared approach to the enhancement of nature, people’s access to and enjoyment of the countryside will help underpin the future sustainability of Dartmoor’s farmed landscape and the vibrance of its local communities.”
Working in partnership to secure the future of Wistman’s Wood
Moor Trees has been working with the Duchy of Cornwall and in 2023 our volunteers spent the day gathering acorns and rowan seeds from Wistman’s Wood. These have been nurtured in our Community Tree Nursery at Dartington ready to become the next generation of Dartmoor woodland.
Helen Aldis, Chief Executive Moor Trees comments: “Moor Trees is proud to be supporting The Duchy of Cornwall and Natural England with the propagation and supply of Wistman’s Wood provenance Oaks and Rowans as part of this vital restoration and expansion project of this iconic temperate rainforest. By using trees sourced from local, ancient woodlands, the trees we plant will share the genetics and have the resilience to survive and thrive in this setting.”
Wistman’s Wood has long been an iconic woodland, not only for its biology, including some of the rarest species of mosses and lichens that are only found within two small, wooded areas on Dartmoor, but also for the folklore and mythology this charismatic woodland has generated.
Andrew Bakere, Senior Reserves Manager, Natural England organised the volunteer day: “I am delighted to be working closely with our partners to deliver Nature Recovery to some of the rarest habitats in the UK; it is only through this partnership that the expansion of these habitats will happen.”
Working with landowners to boost tree survival rates
Volunteers for Moor Trees installing cactus guards at Wistman’s Wood (c) The Duchy of Cornwall/Charles Sainsbury-Plaice
Work to expand the wood has been done in conjunction with Duchy farmer, John Malseed. John’s measures to manage the grazing of his livestock has resulted in good numbers of young Oak trees being able to regenerate around the woodland’s fringes. Our volunteers also spent time installing protective guards around naturally regenerated trees on the edge of Wistman’s Wood to boost their resilience and give them the best chance of survival.
Sam Manning, the Woodland Trust’s Project Officer for South West Rainforests said:“Wistman’s Wood is an iconic temperate rainforest site, and emblematic of the wider mission to restore rainforests in the UK. The Woodland Trust is delighted to be supporting the project by funding stock fencing that will allow the control of grazing animals and is essential in allowing the new woodland to establish. This has been made possible thanks to the support of players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. We are committed to not only protecting and restoring precious ancient temperate rainforest in Cornwall and Devon but expanding it too. It’s a really exciting time for the restoration of nature”.
[1] Figure from The South West Rainforest Alliance
Featured image of group (c) The Duchy of Cornwall/Charles Sainsbury-Plaice
