New Devon rainforest takes shape

Around 650 trees from native species were planted at a 75-acre site near Totnes by a team of engineers and support staff as part of an employee volunteering programme.

The land at Bowden Pillars Farm is managed by Devon Wildlife Trust which is looking to recreate a luscious temperate habitat known as Atlantic woodland or Celtic rainforest that once typified vast areas of the British Isles.

Eventually the rainforest will cover 50 acres and support ferns, mosses and lichens as well as trees. This will benefit not only wildlife, but provide cleaner air, reduce risk from flooding and capture carbon.

The team of eight NGED employees planted trees such as sessile oak, birch, rowan, holly, alder, willow and hazel. Every year, NGED’s 7,000 staff will be aiming to do 14,000 hours of volunteering to support good causes.

NGED volunteer Dannielle Grigg said: “Spending the day volunteering with Devon Wildlife Trust was an incredible experience. I wanted to support their work because protecting local wildlife and restoring natural habitats is essential for our environment and future generations. It was inspiring to see the impact of hands-on conservation in action!”

Claire Inglis, Reserves Officer at Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “We were delighted and very grateful to have the enthusiastic help from staff at NGED, who joined employees from other companies keen to support our work. Such volunteering is vital to help create and manage habitats like the temperate rainforest growing at Bowden Pillars.”

The trust has a 105-year lease on the land at Bowden Pillars Farm – made possible with support from Aviva along with a generous legacy from a Devon Wildlife Trust supporter – and the new rainforest will be close to existing ancient woodland in the Dart Valley and on the southern edges of Dartmoor.

The project is part of a wider Bowden Pillars Future initiative with external partners which includes regenerative farming and low carbon sustainable living.