First ‘Wistman’s Wood’ trees planted as part of efforts to double size of ancient temperate rainforest

First ‘Wistman’s Wood’ trees planted as part of efforts to double size of ancient temperate rainforestFirst ‘Wistman’s Wood’ trees planted as part of efforts to double size of ancient temperate rainforest

The Duchy of Cornwall is working in partnership with Natural England, Moor Trees, the 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.

In March, a group of volunteers joined forces to plant 450 Wistman’s Wood provenance saplings and install protective guards around naturally regenerated trees, helping to recreate a resilient temperate rainforest for future generations. Temperate rainforests are globally rare habitats with 90% lost since the Bronze age, resulting in only 8% remaining in Devon and Cornwall.

These are the first trees planted since the Duchy of Cornwall announced plans to double the size of the Wood in July 2023. The newly planted trees will be established both in small groups and in a newly fenced area, with the long-term ambition to form a ‘mirror image’ of Wistman’s Wood.

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. It has long been an iconic woodland, known 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.

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 to regenerate around the woodland’s fringes.

Moor Trees has been working with the Duchy of Cornwall since 2021 to gather acorns and rowan seeds from Wistman’s Wood, which have then been ‘grown on’ for the past two years, in their Community Tree Nursery in Dartington, South Devon.

Geraint Richards, Head Forester to the Duchy of Cornwall, 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.”

Wistman's Wood expansion

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.”

Andrew Bakere, Senior Reserves Manager, Natural England said:

“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.”

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”.