Our Lake District rainforests

Bull Coppice and Resp Haw Wood run down the eastern side of the Rusland Valley and form a sizeable block of ancient semi-natural woodland with a mix of oak, birch, ash, small leaved lime, holly and other native species. The ground flora includes bluebells, dog’s mercury, primroses and wood sorrel and they have several archaeological features which go back to the tanning and bobbin industry nearby. The woods are temperate rainforest and we have worked with the charity Plantlife for the last two years to survey their lichens, and bryophytes and do some work to make them more resilient.

Our successful restoration of these 17 acres of Rusland rainforest has shown what’s possible. Now we’ve been entrusted with four adjoining woods, expanding our stewardship to around 72 acres. We’re now planning to expand the work that we’ve done in Bull Coppice and Resp Haw, carrying out habitat surveys, species monitoring, veteran tree care, glade creation and invasive-species control.