Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 95
Devon to benefit from The
Wildlife Trusts’ Atlantic
rainforest recovery programme
• Devon Wildlife Trust to restore lost habitat with share of £38 million Aviva fund
• New rainforest nature reserve will be created near Totnes
• Devon project is the first in South West England to benefit from Aviva fund
Devon Wildlife Trust will begin creating Atlantic
rainforest at a new nature reserve called Bowden Pillars
Farm thanks to a long-term partnership with Aviva.
The 30-hectare (75 acre) site is located close to the
market town of Totnes. Its position on the edges of the Dart
river valley provides wonderful views of South Devon and
Dartmoor. Devon Wildlife Trust has secured a 105-year
lease which will allow it to plant two-thirds of the land with
native species trees to create new rainforest.
The purchase of the lease has been made possible with
support from Aviva, along with a generous legacy from a
Devon Wildlife Trust supporter.
Rainforests of the British Isles have been largely destroyed
over hundreds of years and now cover less than 1% of
Britain. The restoration of this precious habitat is part of
a wider programme of nature-based projects funded by
Aviva to remove carbon from the atmosphere and to help
nature recover.
Tree planting at Bowden Pillars Farm is the first project
in the South West of England to receive support from the
Aviva fund. Devon Wildlife Trust will create new rainforest close to existing examples of the ancient, wooded
landscapes in the Dart Valley and on the southern edges
of Dartmoor.
Below, DWT land at Bowden Pillars credit Strutt & Parker
Devon Wildlife Trust will involve communities in and
around Totnes in the rainforest recovery project, who will
benefit from increased access to nature, volunteering,
educational and employment opportunities. Rainforest
restoration will also provide cleaner air and water and
reduced risk from flooding.
Devon Wildlife Trust’s rainforest creation is part of a wider
partnership centred on Bowden Pillars Farm. Other
aspects to the project include establishing a regenerative
farm. The reforested landscape will sit perfectly alongside
these other features, creating a truly holistic community
based on the principles of living in balance with the
natural environment. Other partners include the Apricot
Centre, Regenerative Settlement (Re-Set) and We Have
The Power, as well as a host of supporters in the local
community.
Harry Barton, Chief Executive of Devon Wildlife Trust,
says: “I’m very excited that we can now start to recreate
rainforest in this beautiful part of South Devon. It’ll
provide vital habitat for wildlife in a time of nature crisis,
store vast amounts of carbon, and help restore the health
of the soils and the quality of the water that drains off
them. Bowden Pillars Farm will also be a fantastic asset
for the people of Totnes, who will be able to walk out of
the town and straight into this stunning landscape.”
