Temperate Rainforest in the Isle of Man

British rainforests have been largely destroyed over hundreds of years and now cover less than 1% of Britain. The restoration of this precious habitat is part of a wider programme of nature-based projects funded by Aviva to remove carbon from the atmosphere and to help nature recover.

Creg y Cowin

In fifty years’ time, Creg-y-Cowin will be a maturing, species-rich, native, temperate rainforest; managed by conservation grazing.

The Facts:

• Total Area: 105 acres
• Elevation: 160 to 280m AMSL – will become the Island’s highest native woodland
• Planting Area: 72.5 acres
• Natural Regeneration Area: 20 acres
• Unplanted Area: 10 acres
• Habitats in Unplanted Areas: Lowland heath, fen-meadow, purple moor-grass lawns, Reedbed, meadow, waxcap grassland, tussocky grassland, ponds, archaeological features (including tholtans – abandoned agricultural dwellings and presumed sheilings – summer agricultural residences)..
• Anticipated Biodiversity Gains: Small nesting birds (including in the very long term Atlantic oakwood specialists such as wood warbler, pied flycatcher and restart), raptors and owls, woodland and woodland edge invertebrates, lichens and bryophytes, woodland fungi, woodland wildflowers, bats.