Europe’s first research station dedicated to studying the Atlantic temperate rainforest is planned to be built beside an ancient wood in Cornwall. The Thousand Year Trust charity is currently fundraising an initial amount to establish the £750,000 facility, which will provide a valuable space for students and academics to explore this historically overlooked but biodiverse natural habitat.
The research station, which has received planning approval, will be situated at Cabilla, a former Cornish hill farm on Bodmin Moor. Cabilla has transformed into a retreat center and rainforest restoration project, featuring a significant area of ancient woodland at its core.
Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, the founder of the Thousand Year Trust, emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and knowledge about temperate rainforests. He believes that the lack of dedicated scientific research in this field has contributed to the limited understanding and appreciation of these ecosystems.
Atlantic temperate rainforest thrives in the mild, wet, oceanic climate of western Europe and is characterized by oak woodlands, known for their stunning epiphytes such as lichens, mosses, and ferns. However, the rainforest has been reduced to small fragments, covering only a fraction of its former size, making it one of the rarest ecosystems on Earth.
The initiative to establish a research station has garnered support from various sources, including government funding. Guy Shrubsole’s book, “The Lost Rainforests of Britain,” has played a significant role in raising awareness about the importance of protecting and restoring Britain’s rainforests. The government has also published a temperate rainforest strategy for England, which includes a commitment to invest £750,000 in research to protect England’s rainforests.
Hanbury-Tenison envisions the research station at Cabilla to become a central hub for temperate rainforest research across the entire range. He believes that through scientific research and a deeper understanding of these ecosystems, society will be able to protect and expand the Atlantic temperate rainforest effectively.
The establishment of the research station is seen as an important step towards conserving and appreciating Britain’s rainforest heritage, leading to a greater awareness and recognition of Britain as a rainforest nation.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/07/bid-to-build-europes-first-research-station-on-atlantic-temperate-rainforest-in-cornwall
