The Welsh rainforest will return to its former glory

Thanks to an incredible project, temperate rainforest will be restored in Wales, bringing back the nature of the Celtic past.

• The return of rainforest to Wales is now possible
• The goal is to plant new trees and let nature recover on its own
• Local communities, not just nature, will also benefit from this project

The ancient splendor of the Celtic rainforest will soon be a reality

Reportking to its former glory there Celtic rainforest, in the extreme south-west of Wales, is the aim of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) project.Habitat improvement and recreation of temperate rainforest at Trellwyn Fach, near the coast of Pembrokeshire, strategically positioned for connect the few remaining forest fragments nearby.

The project was financed thanks to a donation from £38 million from Aviva, a London-based insurance company.The whole project is part of a wider British rewilding program with the aim of contribute to the fight against climate change, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and helping nature regain its original splendor.In fact, other projects have already been announced in Devon, North Wales and the Isle of Man.

A precious habitat for the fight against climate change

Temperate rainforests grow in areas characterized by abundant rainfall, high humidity, and low annual temperature variation.This type of forest is found in the world in areas with humid oceanic climates, for example the north-west coast of North America (from California to Alaska), in the British Isles, New Zealand and Chile.In Great Britain a time they extended over large areas of the western coastal strip, but most of these precious habitats – with enormous CO2 storage potential – are gone lost due to deforestation and now they only cover one percent of the territory.The regeneration program aims precisely to reverse this loss.

At the moment the area taken into consideration for forest regeneration is approximately 59 hectares, largely composed of rye grasslands grazed by sheep, and with a low level of biodiversity.The southern tip of the area connects with a remnant of Celtic rainforest, known as Gwaun Valley Woodland, while the northern end extends across the moors of Mount Dinas.

Not just trees but a return of many species

The potential for improvement habitat and fauna it is very high, according to what the Wtsww states, which plans to combine plantings with the natural regeneration of the ecosystem, in order to increase forest connectivity and protect existing woods. Two-thirds of the site will become hardwood forest, species such as oak will in fact be planted (Quercus), the lime tree (Tilia cordata) and the rowan (Sorbus torminalis), so as to also support the presence of mosses, liverworts, lichens and ferns, furthermore, they can become the home of animals and other plant forms.

Not the entire site will be planted as the wetlands, rich in wildlife and plant life, will be conserved.“Exciting times for the local community,” he says Sarah Kessel, CEO of Wtsww, “this site is in a strategic position in the Gwaun Valley, as it is connected to the remnants of Celtic rainforest giving us the opportunity to protect and extend this extraordinary habitat”.

Local communities are an integral part of the project

It will not only be nature that will benefit from this program but also local communities.Indeed, Pembrokeshire communities will be closely involved in the project, both with projects for the volunteering that with opportunities to education and employment, but they will also have better access to nature.A cycle path will be built that will cross the entire site and several hiking trails will be created up to Mount Dinas.

The Trust's conservation team will constantly monitor changes in biodiversity through investigations on both habitats and species, including nesting bird censuses and butterfly monitoring.“We are proud to see a new site within the rainforest restoration project, helping Wales to be ready and prepared to safeguard the climate", are the words of Leah Ramoutar, director of environmental sustainability at Aviva.

The Trellwyn Fach site will connect the remnants of this precious habitat, re-establishing natural corridors for the benefit of wildlife, whilst also adding an extra bit of natural beauty to this region of Wales.