A UK tenant farmer made environmental changes years ago. In 2024, she helped create England's largest temperate rainforest nature reserve

Deep within the damp valleys of Cumbria, a remarkable ecological comeback is taking shape as traditional agriculture meets world-class conservation. England’s temperate rainforests—globally rare, lush habitats characterized by high rainfall, ancient trees, and thriving lichens—once dominated the nation’s oceanic landscape but now cover less than one percent of its surface. In 2024, Natural England officially declared a major new National Nature Reserve in Borrowdale, creating the country’s largest protected expanse of temperate rainforest. At the heart of this milestone is a local tenant farmer whose decade-long environmental stewardship helped pave the way for this historic designation.

Conservation balances farming with rainforest protection

Nestled in the wettest inhabited region of England, the 721-hectare Borrowdale valley boasts extreme humidity and minimal annual temperature changes, producing an incredible habitat dripping with vibrant vegetation.

High-altitude woodlands here serve as crucial carbon sinks while hosting delicate mosses, liverworts, and rare lichens. By securing National Nature Reserve status, conservationists are safeguarding ancient oaks, birches, and native ferns that line the steep rocky slopes, while simultaneously protecting vital strongholds for red squirrels, tree pipits, redstarts, and pied flycatchers.


The project highlights a successful partnership between the National Trust and local agricultural workers, as per Uk.Gov. Recognising that hill farming is fundamental to the area's heritage, the Trust collaborated with tenant farmers to secure environmental funding, balancing sustainable food production with habitat restoration.

This joint approach ensures that centuries-old cultural customs continue to inform modern conservation strategies while improving public access for visitors and residents alike.

Traditional farming helps restore native rainforest habitats

A key contributor to this effort is Anne Cornthwaite, who manages the 750-acre Ashness Farm alongside the National Trust. Stretching from the peaceful shores of Derwentwater up to the rugged fells of High Seat, the farm relies on traditional livestock breeds adapted to tough terrain.

Herds of hardy Herdwick sheep roam the high fells, while Belted Galloway cattle graze the woodland areas. Known for their distinct white stripe and resilience, these smaller cattle act as natural landscape managers, helping clear invasive bracken to allow native rainforest flora to flourish.

Over the past two decades, Ashness Farm has gradually transformed into a model of sustainable land management, according to the farm's official website. The farm runs entirely on renewable heat generated by a woodchip biomass system installed in 2014, and features nearly a kilometre of newly planted hedgerows that serve as wildlife corridors. Visitors can observe these seasonal operations firsthand via a dedicated conservation footpath opened to the public.

Reflecting on the area's prestigious new status, Cornthwaite noted that modest shifts toward environmental stewardship made a decade ago ultimately enabled her land at Moss Mire to join England's largest temperate rainforest reserve. Her farm's evolution demonstrates how subtle, long-term changes in rural management can yield extraordinary ecological triumphs.