Come and be part of a global voice for wild plants and fungi
Fungi are crucial to nearly all life on Earth, but they are not given the recognition they deserve. Will you join our mission to change that?
Fungi are crucial to nearly all life on Earth, but they are not given the recognition and investment they deserve. Will you join our mission to change that?
Our corporate partners benefit from 35 years of experience in nature restoration so they can achieve real impact.
Become a Plantlife member today and together we will rebuild a world rich in plants and fungi
Our 4-year Building Resilience project came to an end in January 2023 after successfully shining a light on the south west’s temperate rainforest and the lichen, moss and liverwort communities it supports.
The initiative saw 12 partners work across 3 counties to raise awareness of the importance of this habitat and the multitude of species who make it their home.
Paid for by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it focused on tackling two connected threads:
We are proud to have clocked up a raft of achievements during the 4-year lifespan of Building Resilience. These included:
The impact of Building Resilience has been significant and has firmly positioned Plantlife at the centre of rainforest conservation in the south west of England.
As a direct result, we have gone on to secure long-term funding to help manage the habitats of 21 species across 12 sites owned and managed by partners, all of which will be overseen by a new Rainforest Advisor.
It was a pleasure to join you at Horner which is a great example of long-term cooperation. You have now extended this to many different regions and made huge steps forward to increase knowledge and conservation of lichens.
Pat WolseleyLichenologist and British Lichen Society member
Young personPart of the MED (Manaton and East Dartmoor) theatre group
Some excellent learning resources have been produced through the project, including the Rapid Woodland Assessment, ID guides and training resources, which are really accessible and useful assets that will remain valuable well beyond the project. The learning and resources will mean people will feel inspired and informed to take action to better look after the key species growing in temperate rainforest.
Project partnerCommenting in the Heritage Insider evaluation questionnaire on the impact of the project
Seeing our volunteers enthusiastically sharing their knowledge about mosses and lichens with colleagues when we’re out on site undertaking practical conservation tasks is testament to the great teaching they’ve been given by the project. Online introductory sessions to ferns, developed during lockdown, proved a valuable and popular part of our online engagement programme, helping sustain the enthusiasm of those who volunteer with us.
Jackie KiberdVolunteer Supporter and Partnerships Coordinator with Exmoor National Park
Through this project we have been able to tangibly demonstrate the impact of providing training and advice on assessing and managing temperate rainforest and its incredible species diversity. The profile for temperate rainforest has increased so that more than ever forest managers are seeking our evidence and experience.
Nicola HutchinsonDirector of Conservation at Plantlife
We’re using the introduction of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) to advocate for wild plants and fungi and their protection.
We’re working in partnership to tackle the threats which nitrogen pollution and peat sales pose to wild plants and fungi.
Our exciting plans for Natur am Byth, Wales’ flagship green recovery project, were fully developed during 2022/23, paving the way for the initiative to begin in earnest in summer 2023.
