Overview
The Thousand Year Trust is committed to restoring the UK’s Atlantic temperate rainforests, which once covered 20% of the British Isles but now occupy less than 1% of their original extent. Starting at Cabilla in Cornwall, the charity is part of a wider movement to increase rainforest coverage, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and habitat restoration. The Trust also promotes the mental and physical health benefits of nature-based therapies.
Did you know that the UK is home to a rare and ancient ecosystem – Atlantic temperate rainforests? Often called “Celtic rainforests,” these lush, moss-draped woodlands once covered up to 20% of the British Isles but now occupy less than 1% of their original extent. Found mainly in the damp, western regions of Cornwall, Wales, and Scotland, these rainforests host unique biodiversity, including rare lichens, ferns, and fungi, and play a critical role in regulating our climate by sequestering carbon.
The Thousand Year Trust is dedicated to restoring and expanding these forests, beginning with its site at Cabilla in Cornwall. The charity supports a broader movement to significantly increase rainforest coverage across the UK and aims to set a global example for sustainable restoration.
This initiative isn’t just about restoring nature – it’s about reconnecting people to their heritage and laying the foundation for a healthier planet and society for generations to come.
Collaborating with six universities, the Trust works to promote community well-being and nature-based therapies, demonstrating the connection between human health and ecological restoration.
With the £3,500 funding from the John Good Group, the Thousand Year Trust will strengthen its volunteer program and cover essential operational costs. Specifically, they plan to hire a Volunteer Manager to create local, living-wage employment and expand community engagement. Additional funds will support the development of an educational guidebook on rainforest restoration for landowners and help establish safe, effective volunteer systems. They also plan to enhance outreach through conferences and workshops, sharing their mission and inspiring others to join the movement.
Being shortlisted is incredible. We are a small, high impact charity open to all voluntary sector leaders across South Yorkshire. Many of the charities we support are small or medium sized organisations, the smallest being a food bank and community larder operating from the founder’s own house.
Support for us means support for a wide range of diverse charities from across the region, resulting in a significant impact for a large number of communities and service users.
Martin Singer
