Volunteers Plant 800 Trees to Expand Dartmoor's Rare Temperate Rainforest
In a significant conservation effort, volunteers gathered at Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve on Dartmoor to plant an additional 800 trees, aiming to extend one of the South West's last remaining fragments of temperate rainforest. This latest planting follows the successful establishment of 450 saplings at the site in March 2025, marking a continued push to gradually double the woodland's size.
Partnerships Driving Restoration
The Duchy of Cornwall collaborated with key partner organisations, including Natural England, Moor Trees, and the Woodland Trust, to support the ongoing restoration of this iconic woodland. The planting took place within specially designed fenced exclusion plots, which are crucial for protecting young saplings and encouraging their successful establishment. This initiative is part of a long-term programme focused on strengthening the woodland's resilience and enabling its expansion over time.
Locally Sourced Saplings
Saplings used in the project were grown from locally gathered acorns and rowan seeds at Wistman's Wood. These were nurtured by Moor Trees at its Community Tree Nursery in Dartington, South Devon, through a partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall that began in 2021. This local sourcing ensures the genetic integrity and adaptability of the new trees to the Dartmoor environment.
Ecological Significance of Wistman's Wood
Wistman's Wood is an ancient oak woodland covering over seven acres in the West Dart Valley on Dartmoor. It holds multiple designations, including National Nature Reserve (NNR), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), highlighting its immense ecological importance. Temperate rainforests are globally rare habitats, with 90% lost since the Bronze Age and only around 8% remaining in Devon and Cornwall, making careful long-term management essential for their survival.
Supporting Dartmoor's Landscape Vision
The tree planting work aligns with the ambitions outlined in the Duchy of Cornwall's Landscape Vision for Dartmoor, a 20-year roadmap developed with farmers, conservationists, and local stakeholders to guide future environmental management. This vision emphasises building nature-rich landscapes and enhancing the resilience of Dartmoor's ecosystem.
Quotes from Key Stakeholders
Emma Magee, head of communities and nature on Dartmoor, The Duchy of Cornwall: "We are delighted to have been able to return to Wistman's Wood and to be working with partners including Natural England and Moor Trees to continue this important work. The continued restoration of this iconic woodland reflects the Duchy's commitment to building and enhancing nature-rich landscapes. Expanding and strengthening a rare temperate rainforest isn't a one-off intervention, it requires steady, long-term effort. This work forms an important part of our wider efforts to build the long-term resilience of Dartmoor's landscape, following the release of our Dartmoor Landscape Vision last year."
Andrew Bakere, senior reserves manager, Natural England: "This strong partnership is driving woodland expansion around our temperate Rainforests - rare, unique, and irreplaceable habitats. We're energised in our mission to support wildlife and repair the very fabric of our landscape. These woods represent our past culture and heritage and are our future defence against climate change. They help manage waterflow from the uplands, reduce storm impacts and protecting communities downstream."
Jess Duffy, woodland officer, Moor Trees: "It is an honour to be able to support the restoration of this globally significant habitat. Our volunteers are playing an integral part in Wistman's Wood's recovery and expansion from gathering the acorns and rowan seeds from the existing woodland, nurturing them into young saplings at our Community Tree Nursery and being part of planting days. It is vital that right across Dartmoor we are able to help restore and create new temperate rainforest habitats. Working in partnership is a really effective way to achieve this."
Elle Bullimore, regional director, Woodland Trust: "We're thrilled to see more trees taking root on Dartmoor this month, continuing work started at Wistman's Wood last spring to expand this rare fragment of temperate rainforest. With so little of this precious habitat left in Devon, every sapling counts. Thanks to the players of the People's Postcode Lottery (PPL), the Woodland Trust has been able to provide funding for protective fencing, which will ensure the young trees have the space they need to establish and thrive. This ongoing effort shows what can be achieved when partners, landowners and local communities come together with a shared vision for restoration."
