The National Trust presents The Wild Life, Episode 2, Eryri (Snowdonia) in Wales
In a stunning corner of north Wales lies an expanse of woodland in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia). Surrounded by awe-inspiring landscape from spectacular mountain peaks, glacial lakes and ancient woodlands and native rainforest. This really is one of the hidden gems that Wales has to offer.
This is one of the sites that the National Trust are planting trees as part of their commitment to plant 20 million trees across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 2030 to help combat climate change and create new habitats for nature. It’s an epic project, on an epic timeline as the trees that get planted today will hopefully still be growing strong in a hundred years time and beyond.
The National Trust Cymru rangers, along with local volunteers, are planting native saplings to the area who, as they grow, will ultimately help capture and store carbon, slow the flow of water and boost the biodiversity of the area. The focus here is about ensuring that the right trees are planted in the right places to ensure not only their survival but that they do the job intended for them.
The land here was reclaimed for agriculture in the Glaslyn estuary at Porthmadog in 1811, species such as aspen, willow and black poplar that can deal with wet conditions are being planted on the rush-covered land. Trees are thirsty for water – and if you plant thirsty trees in areas that are notorious for flooding, they will help slow the flow of water which helps protect habitats and housing further downstream.
Whilst you may associate rainforests with more tropical climates than those in the UK, you might be surprised to know that Britain is home to over 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) of rainforest. Here in Eryri (Snowdonia) the temperate rainforest is of international importance due to the variety of mosses, lichens (which are fungi and algae together as one organism) and liverworts that grow in the area, many of which are only found in Wales. This includes a lichen that only exists in four places in the world. This plant life prospers in the area thanks to the perfect blend of steep rocky gorges, trees, dampness and humidity.
The ecosystem of a woodland is essential for storing carbon and making the landscape more resilient to the ever increasing bouts of extreme weather. Trees are essential for life – and that means we need to not only protect the existing ones but also ensure more and more get planted to ensure the future.
It was the American essayist and lecturer, Ralph Waldo Emerson who once said “the creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn”. The native saplings grown here in the Trust’s first tree nursery in Wales are a long-term commitment, as the saplings are grown for a period of up to four years before being planted out, giving them the best chance of survival, and in turn creating woodlands for future generations as well as supporting nature, wildlife and the climate.
