Tree-planting plans to help protect rainforest

Plans to plant thousands of trees to help conserve a temperate rainforest have been announced.

Naddle Forest, near Bampton in the Lake District, is one of England's few remaining examples of the habitat.

The "ambitious" scheme was announced by the RSPB site manager of Wild Haweswater, Glen Swainson, who has been in the post for three months after his predecessor stepped down following a mini-stroke.

The plans involve about 16,500 trees being planted or protected in the area over the next three years, while other projects including an extension to a tree nursery.

Wild Haweswater in Cumbria is jointly managed by the RSPB and landowner United Utilities.

The Naddle Forest scheme will see about 13,000 trees planted, including native species such as Sessile Oak, Rowan and Juniper.

The work will start in October and will be carried out over this winter and next winter.

It would be funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through a Countryside Stewardship Scheme, the RSPB said.

Mr Swainson said he was "looking forward" to leading the conservation work on "the ambitious new tree planting project".

"We need to do all we can to restore and protect them [temperate rainforests] for future generations," he said, adding: "They are wet wonderful places, full of life."

The announcement comes after the previous site manager Lee Schofield stepped down following 11 years in the role, saying he had "burned out".

Work also began earlier this year to restore the Spinning Barn at Wild Haweswater, to provide community space for local people and events, as well as a science lab.

It is due to be completed in 2025, the RSPB said.

Meanwhile, planting to extend the RSPB’s tree nursery at Wild Haweswater, making it the largest native tree and plant nursery in the Lake District, continues.

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