Europe’s first research centre to save temperate forests is born in Cornwall
Rethinking the future starting from Forests
Source: The Guardian
Date: 11/04/25
Date: 11/04/25
In Cornwall, a historic region in the southwest of England, an ambitious and unprecedented project is taking shape: Europe’s first research station entirely dedicated to the study and protection of Atlantic temperate rainforests. This extraordinary ecosystem — as fascinating as it is overlooked — now survives only in a few fragmented areas along the western coast of the continent.
Promoted by the Thousand Year Trust1, the project aims to radically change the way we perceive and protect these forests, which for too long have remained on the margins of scientific research.
¹The Thousand Year Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to restoring temperate rainforests.
Promoted by the Thousand Year Trust1, the project aims to radically change the way we perceive and protect these forests, which for too long have remained on the margins of scientific research.
¹The Thousand Year Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to restoring temperate rainforests.
A Rare and threatened ecosystem
Atlantic temperate rainforests stretch like emerald patches from Bergen to Braga, across misty and humid landscapes where biodiversity flourishes in often invisible forms: lichens, ferns, mosses, and ancient oaks that tell millennia-old stories. Yet, today, less than 1% of the Earth's surface hosts this habitat — once widespread, now reduced to isolated relics.
Despite their crucial ecological importance — they act as natural carbon sinks — these forests have been systematically ignored.
"Everyone knows about tropical rainforests, but very few are aware of the existence of Atlantic temperate rainforests," says Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, founder of the Thousand Year Trust. "The difference? The former have been studied, told, loved. The latter have not."
Despite their crucial ecological importance — they act as natural carbon sinks — these forests have been systematically ignored.
"Everyone knows about tropical rainforests, but very few are aware of the existence of Atlantic temperate rainforests," says Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, founder of the Thousand Year Trust. "The difference? The former have been studied, told, loved. The latter have not."
A new home for research, at the heart of the Forest
To fill this knowledge gap, the Thousand Year Trust has launched a campaign to raise £750,000 to build an innovative research centre at Cabilla — a historic farm set within Cornwall’s regenerating Atlantic rainforest.
The structure will be built entirely from local timber, in collaboration with the Woodland Trust2, and will host students, researchers, and scholars from all over the world.
Labs, shared spaces, accommodation, and a communal dining hall: not just a scientific hub, but also a place where ideas, connections, and concrete solutions for environmental regeneration can take shape.
2The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.
The structure will be built entirely from local timber, in collaboration with the Woodland Trust2, and will host students, researchers, and scholars from all over the world.
Labs, shared spaces, accommodation, and a communal dining hall: not just a scientific hub, but also a place where ideas, connections, and concrete solutions for environmental regeneration can take shape.
2The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.
From research to land stewardship
Combining science with tools capable of measuring and guiding change is essential. This is where Regg3 comes in — a platform specialized in assessing the environmental and social impact of human activities.
In the context of Cabilla, Regg3 can play a strategic role in ensuring that every intervention is not only effective but also sustainable and aligned with long-term goals. From soil health to air quality, and even the social impact on local communities — everything can be measured, improved, and shared.
The Thousand Year Trust project not only highlights the importance of preserving Atlantic temperate rainforests but also shows how collaboration between science, technology, and responsible land management can create a fairer and more resilient future — for both the environment and local communities.
In the context of Cabilla, Regg3 can play a strategic role in ensuring that every intervention is not only effective but also sustainable and aligned with long-term goals. From soil health to air quality, and even the social impact on local communities — everything can be measured, improved, and shared.
The Thousand Year Trust project not only highlights the importance of preserving Atlantic temperate rainforests but also shows how collaboration between science, technology, and responsible land management can create a fairer and more resilient future — for both the environment and local communities.