The Rusland Valley Temperate Rainforest Project is live. We are lucky enough to have one of the last strongholds of ancient temperate rainforest in England. Help us protect and regenerate this precious habitat.
We are partners in the 2024-2025 Special species Survival Fund Project for Cumbria with the grant managed by HLF and funded by DEFRA. Partners include Plantlife (lead), Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Woodlands and Cumbria Connect. Plantlife are running volunteer training days in the area so volunteers can learn how to survey for rainforest indicators and measure the health of our woodlands. Local Rusland Valley woodland conservation work parties are beginning to improve habitat alongside capital works funded by the grant. This project is now run by the Rusland local support group.
Please contact us at ruslandrainforest@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk if you want to get involved in training to conduct surveys, educational walks or volunteer work parties. Online training events are also available via Plantlife.
Cumbria's Temperate Rainforests support some of the richest and most treasured habitats in our beautiful countryside. They contain a treasure trove of veteran trees, butterflies, birds, invertebrates, fungi, as well as valuable moss and lichen species with wonderful names such as Fairy beads, Elf’s ears, and Pixie cups. Specialist surveys in our woodlands have identified key rainforest indicators and much potential but the woods need our help to regenerate and thrive by work parties to help open up the canopy to bring in light, clear holly to encourage a diverse forest floor and remove non native species that shade out key habitat.
Did you know only 1% of the habitat on the entire planet can support Temperate Rainforest? Rare indeed.
Please join us to help our work. Our woodlands are under threat from climate change, disease and non-native species. Their strong roots help prevent downstream flooding and the trunks are host to thousands of species. Many lichen and bryophyte species could hold medical properties that have not even been researched yet. If we lose these precious habitats, they cannot be re-created. There are opportunities to conduct surveys, help with conservation work parties and support on project administration.