The Pride in Our Planet Awards were created to celebrate individuals, organisations and communities leading the way in climate action and nature recovery. Cornwall Wildlife Trust was nominated by South East Cornwall MP Anna Gelderd, with judges praising the project's ambitious plans to restore one of Britain's rarest habitats while supporting carbon renewal, wildlife and local communities over the long term 

Winners were selected by an independent judging panel chaired by Climate Minister Katie White MP and comprising leading figures from environmental, business and media sectors. 

The Temperate Rainforest Restoration Project, supported by a 50-year commitment from Aviva, is restoring temperate rainforest in West Looe through a combination of tree planting, natural regeneration and habitat management. Work began last winter, with 4,600 native trees having already been planted with the help of volunteers, local schoolchildren and community partners. 

Temperate rainforest is amongst the world’s rarest and most threatened habitats. Although around 20% of the UK may once have supported this unique habitat, only around 1% remains today, making restoration projects like this increasingly important for both nature and climate. 

Alison Smith, Temperate Rainforest Project Manager at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: 

"We are absolutely delighted to receive this award. Temperate rainforest is one of our most precious yet overlooked habitats, and this recognition highlights both its importance and the urgent need for restoration. 

" We are incredibly grateful to Aviva, our supporters, volunteers and community partners who are helping make the project vision a reality." 

The next phase of restoration will begin this autumn, with a further 25 hectares of woodland established through a combination of tree planting and natural regeneration. Cornwall Wildlife Trust plans to plant an additional 18,000 native trees, continuing to work alongside local schools, community groups, businesses and volunteers. 

Over the next century, the project is predicted to sequester approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and improve natural flood management and resilience to extreme weather events, contributing to climate change mitigation. It is also expected to deliver wider benefits including improved water quality and opportunities for education and skills development. 

Alongside woodland creation, the project is restoring existing rainforest remnants and protecting rare epiphytes: the lichens, mosses, liverworts and ferns that define temperate rainforest ecosystems. These species play an important role in biodiversity and carbon storage, but many are threatened by invasive species, a lack of woodland management and the impacts of ash dieback. Conservation work includes carefully managing woodland structure to maintain the humid, well-lit conditions needed by rare lichens and, where necessary, translocating lichens from dying ash trees to suitable nearby hosts. 

The project is part of Aviva's £38 million UK-wide Temperate Rainforest Restoration Programme, delivered in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts. The long-term funding enables Cornwall Wildlife Trust to take a landscape-scale approach to restoration, creating conditions intended to support the long-term recovery of temperate rainforests in the UK.