A new tree nursery that will help create Cumbria’s next temperate rainforest has formally opened.
The Victoria Wood Nursery has opened at Plumgarths, Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s headquarters near Kendal.
It is one of a network of nurseries across the county where native trees will be grown for Skiddaw Forest, a future temperate rainforest.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust is spearheading the Skiddaw Forest project, which aims in its 100-year vision to see 3,000 acres of habitat restored, including just over 1,000 acres of peat bog and the creation of 620 acres of temperate rainforest.
The Trust said creating a rainforest will be challenging. Skiddaw is the highest nature reserve in England and isn’t currently wooded, although evidence suggests it was in the past.
New trees will need to survive harsh conditions that may get even harsher with climate change.
It added that planting with seeds from local trees ensures the young saplings have the best chance at surviving on the exposed upland slopes, in the cool, wet Cumbrian climate.
The Victoria Wood Nursery has been generously funded by The Victoria Wood Foundation, set up after Wood’s death in 2016, and Trustees from the Foundation attended the opening.
The Foundation supports the arts and other causes that interested the much-loved comedian, who spent a lot of time in the Lake District.
Guests toured the nursery, including the greenhouses and raised beds with Rowan Sharpe, community tree grower and gardener and Isaac Johnston, Skiddaw project officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Working with volunteers over the past year, they have collected seeds from the gnarliest, most weather-beaten local trees, to grow and plant out in nurseries.
Unveiling a new wooden sign for the tree nursery, Trustees from The Victoria Wood Foundation spoke about why they wanted to support the nursery and what it would have meant to the comedian.
Cathy Edis of the foundation said: “The Victoria Wood Foundation is thrilled to support Cumbria Wildlife Trust in the establishment of a tree nursery in Kendal in memory of Victoria Wood.
“The tree nursery will provide saplings for Skiddaw Forest and the creation of a temperate rainforest on England’s highest nature reserve. Victoria enjoyed being in the Lake District over many years.
“She would have been thrilled to be part of this endeavour.”
Rowan Sharpe added: “It’s wonderful to formally open The Victoria Wood Nursery! Our huge thanks to The Victoria Wood Foundation for supporting this fantastic tree-growing nursery for Skiddaw Forest.
“I’d like to thank the amazing volunteers who have worked with us on the nature reserve since 2024. They’ve been out in all weathers, collecting and potting thousands of tree seeds. The seedlings are now growing in the nursery, and will be ready for planting out on Skiddaw Forest at the end of this year.”
Rowan explained the enormity of the task ahead: “We have a huge number of trees to establish at Skiddaw Forest – around 300,000, as part of our 100-year vision.
“But we’ll need to grow more than that – maybe twice as many, as we’ll inevitably lose some on the hill.
“Growing from seeds is a massive task and couldn’t be done without our great team of volunteers and community tree-nurseries across the county.”
Cumbria Wildlife Trust is working with mental health recovery charity Growing Well, to grow trees for Skiddaw Forest at their tree nursery near the M6 services at Tebay.
“And more community tree-growing nurseries will open this year, including at Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve near Penrith (also funded by The Victoria Wood Foundation) and at Gosling Sike, Houghton (Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s north Cumbrian base).
Isaac Johnston added that temperate rainforests are vital habitats in Cumbria and beyond.
He said: “These are wet, wonderful places full of life, with a rich tapestry of mosses and lichens.
“They are excellent stores of carbon, not only in the oak, birch, rowan and hazel trees that make up the forest, but in the rich soils and characteristic ferns sprouting everywhere from forest floor to branches.
“With huge potential benefits for wildlife and carbon storage, it’s imperative this special habitat is restored to help us tackle the nature and climate crises.”
Thanks to a long-term partnership with Aviva, The Wildlife Trust secured £5 million to kickstart the acquisition of the Skiddaw Forest Nature Reserve.
Following a hugely successful fundraising appeal in which thousands of people helped raise £1.25 million and with additional support from charitable funders, Cumbria Wildlife Trust was able to complete the purchase of England’s highest nature reserve.
The development of Skiddaw Forest, a 100-year vision, will see 3,000 acres of habitat restored, including just over 1,000 acres of peat bog and the creation of 620 acres of temperate rainforest.
