The Cornwall Rainforest Research Station

Did you know we have rainforest in the UK?   

Almost a fifth of the British Isles was once shrouded in temperate rainforest. Now, due to deforestation, these rainforests cover less than 1% of the Earth’s land surface, making them one of the rarest ecosystems on the planet. They are the most vibrant, nourishing and folkloric habitats that we have in the UK, but only tiny fragments remain. The time to reverse that destruction is now. 

Our mission at the Thousand Year Trust is to triple the amount of temperate rainforest in the UK. To achieve this, we need to better understand the importance of temperate rainforests, and develop evidence-based knowledge to protect, restore and expand this rare habitat. And we need to reconnect people with nature. We are, after all, a rainforest people.

We need your support to build Europe’s first temperate rainforest research station at the edge of an ancient rainforest in Cornwall.

The research station's accessible green roof is a test bed for ground-breaking research © Unknown Works

The Thousand Year Trust (TYT) is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to the restoration of our rainforest landscapes. Despite the rarity of these rainforests, we still know surprisingly little about them. While tropical rainforests receive significant attention and funding, the UK’s own rainforests have remained largely overlooked. There are hundreds of research stations dedicated to studying tropical rainforests worldwide, yet not a single one exists for Europe’s temperate rainforests and there is almost no dedicated research into their role in storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, or enhancing human well-being. 

A space for research, conservation, and community: 

We are working together with award-winning architects at Unknown Works to build a state-of-art facility that will: 

• Support cutting-edge research into the role of temperate rainforests in climate regulation, biodiversity and human mental and physical health.
• Provide accommodation for scientists, volunteers, and communities to learn, connect, take action and to implement evidence-based restoration of this rare habitat.
• Serve as a hub for education and well-being, connecting people with nature and the importance of these forests.  

We need your support!  

We are on the verge of something extraordinary. Every donation brings us closer to creating a cutting-edge research station in the depths of our rainforest valley on Bodmin Moor to protect and restore Britain’s rainforests for future generations. Your support will help us to start the project which will see us build: 

• Fieldwork lodging: Providing accommodation for scientists and volunteers working on rainforest restoration. 
• A Rainforest Laboratory: A dedicated research space with workstations, climate-controlled storage, and areas for analysis.
• A CommunityHhub: A space for conservationists, researchers, and communities to come together, share knowledge, and take action. 
• Supporting the charity with core funding that will allow us to manage this project and the Cornwall Rainforest Project where we are tripling rainforest cover across Cornwall.

 Why your support matters now 

Our mission is urgent. Over 98% of the UK’s temperate rainforest has already been lost. We are at a critical moment for temperate rainforests—without urgent protection, the last fragments could disappear in our lifetime.  

This research station will help us unlock the knowledge needed to protect and restore these forests, ensuring they thrive for future generations. 

Help us to create a Thousand-Year legacy  

The Thousand Year Trust draws its inspiration from the Sessile oak, a keystone species of temperate rainforests. These remarkable trees can live for centuries—growing, sheltering life, and, in time, returning to the earth, enriching the soil and nourishing the rainforest for generations to come. This longevity represents the heart of our vision: to restore ecosystems with the same long-term commitment.  

By donating you are investing in the future of rainforest conservation. Help us grow the roots of a thousand-year legacy.  

Donate now 

Donate today and help us start work on building Europe’s first dedicated temperate rainforest research station! Together, we can make a difference that will last for a thousand years. 

Top: A cutting-edge field-work laboratory looks on to a fully equipped kitchenette and gathering space. Below: Approach view of the Temperate Rainforest Research Station © Unknown Works