Bowden Pillars - Frequently Asked Questions

The 30-hectare (75 acre) site is just to the south of Totnes. The reserve is spread over several fields which cover a steep valley slope. At its top are wonderful views northwards to the market town, the River Dart and then across a patchwork of fields to Dartmoor.

It’s a network of agricultural fields dominated by rye grass and edged by hedges, with small patches of woodland. Although green and pleasant to look at, the site has relatively poor wildlife value.

Decades of chemical fertiliser and herbicide applications mean few wildflowers grow there and only a few pollinating insects can survive. The nibbling and trampling of generations of sheep has meant its grass has been close cropped in the past and soils compacted, so that whenever heavy rain falls, water runs rapidly off the valley side, taking with it soil and fertiliser residue into nearby streams and the River Dart.

The project will transform the land and its value for wildlife. We’ll start by establishing a woodland across 70% (around 22 hectares) of the site creating an Atlantic oak woodland – a temperate rainforest for the future. We will achieve this through both planting and natural colonisation using existing seed source on the site. The remaining 30% (8 hectares) will be open ground habitat and we will support the development of a mosaic of habitats including wildflower meadows and wetland areas. Over decades the new woodland will mature and so will a series of ‘edge’ habitats provided by glades and rides through the developing canopy. Into these dappled and sunny spaces plants, bees, butterflies and birds will find new homes.

Native to the British Isles, temperate rainforest is an incredibly rare and wildlife rich habitat that once stretched from Cornwall to the west of Scotland. Now it covers less than 1% of the UK, in areas such as western Scotland, the Lake District, western Wales and here in the South West. For this rare and precious habitat to survive we need to create new woodlands to reconnect these fragments of rainforest so that bigger areas of rainforest can start to thrive and regenerate, without this intervention UK rainforests will remain just fragments and will never achieve their full potential.

A mix of planting and natural regeneration will be important in restoring rainforests. Natural regeneration is the safest way to ensure natural woodland develops, however it is made up of trees which exist in the local area. Planting trees enables us to improve tree diversity, which makes a habitat more resilient to pressures like disease, and bring back species in the area which have recently been lost.

Approximately two thirds of the land managed by Devon Wildlife Trust (circa 52 acres) will be turned into woodland, and the remaining third (circa 23 acres) will be turned into other habitats. Of the woodland, 50% will be planted and 50% will be allowed to regenerate naturally.

Restoring wild places, habitats and wildlife is critical for tackling climate change and guaranteeing food security. The UK Food Security 2021 report identified climate change and biodiversity loss as the biggest threats to food production in future. Reviving and expanding UK rainforests will help address these twin emergencies.

Tree species will include sessile oak, birch, rowan, holly, alder, willow and hazel. They are home to stoats and pine martens, and threatened birds like wood warblers, redstarts, and pied flycatchers. Wet conditions found in a rainforest support an abundance of mosses, liverworts, lichens, and ferns – many of which grow on the trees or cover boulders and ravines. The dampness is ideal for fungi, including globally rare species like hazel gloves fungus.

The trees planted will be a mix of deciduous, native species sourced from seed collected in England. We will aim to source the seeds as local as possible, and this will include those grown by Woodland Trust and DWT’s Saving Devon’s Treescapes tree nurseries based in the county.

The trees have been planted at variable spacing, with an average of 2.5m as we are planting 1600 stems per hectare- some may be slightly further apart, and some closer together. Variable spacing promotes establishment of wildlife that rely on a diversity of structure and is much nicer visually then a grid like approach! The planted areas (total 25acres) will form part of a mosaic of 25 acres of developing woodland colonisation, and 20 acres of maintained open ground habitat managed for diversification of wildflowers and the wildlife that relies on this more open space, alongside existing hedgerows, small copses and open grown trees on site. Over time, work will be undertaken to ensure the woodland edge provides an important gradient habitat, alongside the development of pockets of open glades. 

Twenty one species are in the planting mix, many shrubby species and a number of taller, high canopy trees such as oak. The dynamics of the planting mixes have been devised in relation to a number of factors depending on where they are planted on the site, and in terms of the species mix we have included those trees and shrubs that are found in the local wooded environment and in local temperate rainforest, species which support key wildlife, species that fruit and blossom to allow adequate forage for pollinators, birds and mammals, and species that are well adapted to the wetter and conversely more exposed areas of the site. 

Oaks tend to be more spaced out in the planting mix, and there is a gradient of shrubby edges to the planted areas. Over time the woodland will be managed to promote ongoing structural diversity, glades, areas of high canopy and successive understorey, alongside a number of wood pasture trees in the more open areas. 
 

A significant area of the site will be deer fenced, with badger gates and access gates installed. The eco-friendly guards we are using across a small area of the site are of a height to prevent deer species from browsing the tops of the trees as they grow up. 

Existing hedgerows on the site will be managed to benefit wildlife, including allowing hedgerow trees to grow up and ensure there is a successor generation of these. Some areas of hedgerow will be encouraged to thicken up and eventually a number will be laid where they do not form part of the wider woodland establishment.

As the wooded areas develop, we will manage this to include developing glades, short rotation coppice edges for gradient habitat alongside managing the mosaic of grassland (some 20 acres) to be of benefit for pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

The Rainbow Terra guards used are created from UK forestry byproduct – wood chip and plant materials and are the first fully soil biodegradable tree shelter on the market. The mulch mats are from hessian jute and are also biodegradable. Cable ties will be reused, we didn’t want to use metal ties as these are sharp for hands at public planting events and will cause issues when in the soil especially if undertaking maintenance such as brush cutting. The cable ties are the only element that are unfortunately plastic are there is not yet many alternatives readily available, we have made a concerted effort to ensure all other elements of our work exclude unnecessary plastic and of course no pesticides will be used at this site. 

A site suitability assessment was undertaken before we took on the site in line with good practice approaches. The landholding consists of low-grade agricultural fields bounded by hedgerows, the grassy sward had been closely grazed year-round and was suffering soil compaction by poaching in wet weather. This is reflected in the vegetation found growing at the site, largely coarse species with little diversity and of restricted benefit to wildlife. 

Soil sampling, breeding bird and UK Hab vegetation surveys were all conducted prior to the planting design being finalised, alongside archaeological and soil composition surveys. The site also falls within the zoning for low sensitivity impact for woodland creation (i.e. no existing priority habitats have been identified) and has potential to support several rare and generalist species following diversification and management. 

There has been a 53% decline in woodland cover across the UK since 1970. Devon has lower levels of woodland cover then the national average (11.8% compared to 13%) and many of our woodlands here are subject to a number of threats. 

Trees and woods protected through restoration work and planted as part of creation projects need to be at the heart of nature recovery, whilst offering a number of benefits for our communities. Low productivity farmland close to existing tree seed sources offers valuable opportunities for woodland creation work with the right tree planted in the right place in mind.

Woodland Trust’s State of Woods and Trees is an important read for evidence of statistics and data: State of the UK's Woods and Trees - Woodland Trust

Totnes is within Britain's 'oceanic zone', and the steeply sided slope of the land tumbling down to the river below creates the ideal conditions for a rainforest to grow. Although we do not know how our environment will change in 100 years, larger areas of woodland canopy will be better able to support the conditions of high humidity needed for rainforests and will help buffer against temperature extremes.

Native to the British Isles, temperate rainforest is an incredibly rare and wildlife rich habitat that once stretched from Cornwall to the west of Scotland. Now it covers less than 1% of the UK, in areas such as western Scotland, the Lake District, western Wales and here in the South West. It is much rarer than tropical rainforests. The Atlantic Rainforest Restoration Programme is the first attempt to go beyond restoration of remaining fragments to establish new woodlands that will begin a reconnection of the Atlantic rainforest. We aim to create bigger areas of rainforest that are better managed and more connected – the start of a 100-year journey to recreate the lost rainforest of the British Isles and Northern Ireland.

The trees we have planted are a wide complement of native broadleaf species grown from local provenance seed stock (much harvested from our own ancient woodland reserves). In addition to the planted areas, over 25 acres of the site will support the establishment of natural colonisation from existing seed sources on and around the site, which will create dynamic, naturally dispersed areas of woodland. Trees sourced from local provenance will be the best at adapting and developing resilience to changes in climate and environmental conditions. 

Ongoing monitoring and management of this woodland to encourage structural diversity, a mosaic of habitats and encourage biodiversity will ensure it flourishes. Our priority is to create resilient woodland and be evidence based on our approaches. 
 

We have taken future climate change into account in the design of the scheme. We are planting a diverse mix of native broadleaf species which are more resilient to fire risk than conifers. The Atlantic rainforest climate zone is also one of the wettest areas of the country, so by its nature this programme should have more in-built resilience compared to other drier and hotter parts of the UK. We do expect some tree losses from natural hazards as would happen in any scheme, and this is built into our carbon sequestration calculations.

Adaptation requirements are a core part of the contract we have with Aviva and we will also be measuring the impacts of our planted trees on local climatic conditions such as temperature and flood risk as part of the project.

The planting mix contains a mix of 21 native, local provenance species. This has been diversified to ensure that more drought tolerant species are planted on the higher slopes, and those that are happier in boggier habitats are planted in the lower areas. 

A rainforest is a type of damp woodland. You will know if you are in a rainforest because you will be surrounded by a wonderful abundance of mosses, liverworts, lichens, and ferns – many of which grow on the tree branches and trunks and cover boulders and ravines. The dampness of the air will be ideal for fungi to grow, including globally rare species such as hazel gloves fungus. Woodlands tend to be less damp with a less dense undergrowth.

Soil sampling, breeding bird and UK Hab vegetation surveys were all conducted prior to the planting design being finalised, alongside archaeological and soil composition surveys. 

We have been working with Bristol University staff and students to conduct soil sampling and measure factors such as carbon deposition and nematodes.  This will be conducted at regular intervals to see how the soil’s composition responds to the woodland establishment over time. 

We possess excellent skills in waxcap CHEGD ID. We are also collaborating with the University of Plymouth (UoP) and the Woodland Trust (WT) to explore methods to accelerate fungal colonisation in woodlands. Additionally, our existing woodland networks will facilitate the colonisation of woodland fungi.

Yes. We want Bowden pillars to be an asset for Totnes and surrounding communities. In time there will be opportunities to volunteer, as well as in employment through rural skills. We also want to see Bowden Pillars become a place of environmental education for nature-lovers of all ages.

At present public access to Bowden Pillars is limited. However, an ancient bridleway leads through the site and gives great views across the South Hams.

We are working with the Forestry commission and Woodland Trust at this site, along with local tree nurseries and a number of other conservation partners and specialists. We believe that holistic approaches and sharing best practice, ideas and enthusiasm will have the most benefit for this developing habitat, and the wildlife and people that will engage with it. We are planning to use the site for education and outreach, and train local people to develop identification skills by carrying out annual bioblitzes, bat walks, tree ID and other wildlife focused events.

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) is part of the local communities that we serve and we will work alongside them to determine the most suitable sites for expanding temperate rainforest habitat. This includes ensuring local people benefit from the many opportunities provided by rainforest restoration – through economic benefits, recreation and more.

We have a long history of working in partnership with communities and farmers, and this is vital to achieve the pace and scale that we need for nature’s recovery. Local collaboration is the only way that we’ll combat the crises that threaten us all. 

Restoring wild places, habitats and wildlife is critical for tackling climate change and guaranteeing food security. The UK Food Security 2021 report identified climate change and biodiversity loss as the biggest threats to food production in future. Reviving and expanding UK rainforests will help address these twin emergencies.

The new rainforest is part of a wider project, called Bowden Pillars Future, which has the ambition to transform the area into a beacon for sustainable development and regenerative agriculture. This will grow food for the local community and include agroforestry, grains for the local mill, a grass-fed cattle herd, a market garden and new orchards.

DWT’s rainforest creation is just one part of an ambitious local partnership centred on Bowden Pillars. Other aspects of the project will use land to establish a farm and a small community of zero carbon dwellings. This will use regenerative agriculture techniques to grow food while also improving soil structure, capturing carbon and increasing biodiversity.

To achieve this vision, we’ve become part of a Community Benefit Society, partnering two other local organisations, the Apricot Centre and Regenerative Settlement (Re-Set). They will lead on the farming and other elements of the project, while we concentrate on creating a new home for nature.

Acquisition of the whole Bowden Pillars site was made possible by a philanthropic loan from Julia Davies of We Have The POWER, through her Funding Nature Project.

In May we were able to purchase a 105-year lease for the land. This was made possible by a progressive partnership with Aviva, along with a generous legacy from a Devon Wildlife Trust supporter. 

Aviva is publicly committed to being Net Zero by 2040, including emissions from its wider supply chain (known as scope 3 emissions). It has a clear plan to achieve this, with immediate actions and targets for 2025, 2030 and 2040. It is signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative so its carbon-reduction work can be validated and is also using its investment funds and business influence to introduce other companies to Science Based Targets.

Between 2010 and 2021, Aviva cut its own operational greenhouse gas emissions (known as its scope 1 and 2 emissions) by 66%. This publicly disclosed, demonstrable and sustained reduction in absolute emissions is a key consideration for us.

Aviva will only use carbon credits to offset residual emissions that are expected to remain beyond 2040, once all realistic measures have been taken to minimise them.

Aviva’s investment to generate the carbon credits necessary to hit Net Zero is happening now, 15-20 years ahead of any of the emissions that they will be offsetting. Their investment in woodland creation (for instance) will lead to substantial greenhouse gas sequestration well ahead of 2040, even taking account of the time it takes for trees to grow. This means Aviva will not be struggling retrospectively (and potentially unsuccessfully) to recapture carbon that they have already put into the air.

The Wildlife Trusts support nature-based solutions that deliver genuinely additional and permanent benefits for climate and nature, and do not undermine wider environmental and social integrity.

We do not support schemes that enable mitigation avoidance or that divert pressure and resource away from cutting emissions at source. Any carbon credit scheme must also demonstrate a high standard of transparency and scientific rigour about how it measures carbon and clear evidence of how carbon benefits would not have occurred otherwise. The Wildlife Trusts believe that this evidence is demonstrated in the partnership with Aviva and have written a blog about this new approach to nature-based solutions.

Herbivore management forms part of our management approach at our reserves, informed by good practice, monitoring and both herbivore impact and woodland condition assessments undertaken on the ground. 

This is also in line with any prescriptions set out by our woodland creation/ restoration agreements.