Cymraeg
Success in the campaign to save the Celtic rainforest!
The Woodland Trust's campaign to raise the funds to purchase almost the whole of Cwm Mynach in Snowdonia, nearly 1000 acres, has been a success. The Trust has now completed the purchase of the land and aims to re-establish native woodland and other valuable habitats across a landscape now dominated by conifer plantation. More about the campaign success here.
Eryl Roberts of the Woodland Trust says: “We are hugely grateful to each one of the nearly 15,000 of people who have contributed to the appeal. Over the past few months we have been busy tying up the details of the sale and we are delighted that this process has now been successfully concluded.”
In May 2009 the Woodland Trust launched an appeal to raise £865,000 to fund the purchase nearly 1000 acres of land in the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, and the first five years of management work. The Trust has now raised over £800,000 and has therefore been been able to complete the purchase.
The site is a global hidden gem. Fragments of native woodland doggedly remain despite the dominance of conifers and the prevailing damp conditions help mosses, liverworts and lichens to thrive.
Ray Woods, a recognised lichen expert who works for Plantlife, describes the remaining area of native woodland:
“It can rain on 200 days a year. You’ve heard of the rainforests. This is the Celtic rainforest and it’s even rarer than the tropical rainforest and probably more threatened. If just one of these trees goes we’ll lose the lichens with it. Once gone, it will be incredibly difficult to get them back.”
Although the land has now been secured, the Trust is still raising funds for the restoration work. Those wishing to support this can still do so from this web page.
By making a donation today, you are helping to safeguard the future of this global treasure.
To hear Ray Woods' quote in full and to see the site for yourself you can view a short video.