Plans have been announced to plant thousands of trees to help protect the temperate rainforest.
Naddle Forest near Bampton in the Lake District is one of the few remaining examples of this habitat in England.
The “ambitious” plan was announced by Glen Swainson, the RSPB’s Wild Haweswater site manager, who has held the post for three months after his predecessor resigned following a mild stroke.
Plans call for planting or protecting around 16,500 trees in the area over the next three years. Other projects include expanding a tree nursery.
Wild Haweswater in Cumbria is managed jointly by the RSPB and landowner United Utilities.
The Naddle Forest project aims to plant around 13,000 trees, including native species such as sessile oak, rowan and juniper.
Work will begin in October and will be carried out this winter and next.
The funding will come from the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture as part of a Countryside Stewardship Scheme, the RSPB said.
Mr Swainson said he was “looking forward” to leading conservation work on the “ambitious new tree planting project”.
“We must do everything in our power to restore and protect them (the temperate rainforests) for future generations,” he said, adding: “They are moist, wonderful places full of life.”
The announcement comes after previous site manager Lee Schofield resigned after 11 years in the role, citing “burnout”.
Earlier this year, work also began on the restoration of the Spinning Barn at Wild Haweswater to create a community space for local people and events, as well as a science laboratory.
Completion is planned for 2025, the RSPB said.
Meanwhile, planting work continues on the extension of the RSPB nursery at Wild Haweswater, which will make it the largest nursery of native trees and plants in the Lake District.
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