Cornish Gems partners with The Thousand Year Trust to help restore Britain's temperate rainforests

A B Corp accredited holiday letting specialist has named The Thousand Year Trust as its Charity of the Year.

Cornish Gems, which curates extraordinary stays from its handpicked portfolio of luxury holiday homes, has pledged its support to the Cornwall-based charity, which is the only organisation in the UK dedicated solely to restoring and expanding Britain’s temperate rainforests.

Through the partnership, Cornish Gems will help raise awareness and funds for The Thousand Year Trust’s conservation work, including plans to create Europe’s first temperate rainforest research station on Bodmin Moor.

Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, Founder of The Thousand Year Trust, said: “We are delighted that Cornish Gems has chosen to support The Thousand Year Trust. Cornwall is home to some of Britain’s last remaining fragments of temperate rainforest, yet these extraordinary habitats are still relatively unknown.

“By working with Cornish Gems, we hope to introduce more people to the importance of these rare ecosystems and inspire support for their restoration, so they can thrive for generations to come.”

The partnership also holds special significance for the Cornish Gems team. Earlier this year, Digital Content Specialist Rachel Parkinson sadly lost her brother, William, who passed away unexpectedly in January at the age of 26. Intelligent, kind and deeply committed to bettering the world around him, William had a profound love of Cornwall’s wild places, wildlife and scientific innovation.

Working closely with William’s family, The Thousand Year Trust will honour his legacy through the creation of the William Parkinson Living Laboratory, a dedicated research space at its future rainforest research station in the Cabilla Valley on Bodmin Moor - a landscape close to William’s home and heart.

Rachel said: “The Thousand Year Trust’s work means a huge amount to my family and I. William cared deeply about Cornwall’s wild places, and knowing his name will be connected to research that helps protect them for future generations is incredibly special.

“To see Cornish Gems choose The Thousand Year Trust as its Charity of the Year is deeply meaningful, and I’m so proud the team is supporting something so close to my heart.”

Founded in 2023, The Thousand Year Trust is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to restoring temperate rainforest landscapes. Once found across up to 20 per cent of the British Isles, these rare habitats are now among the UK’s most endangered ecosystems, with less than one per cent of their historic range remaining. The Trust is working to reverse that decline, with a mission to triple the amount of temperate rainforest growing across Britain over the next 30 years.

As part of the partnership, Cornish Gems will encourage guests to donate to the cause when booking their holidays, while team members will support the charity through fundraising events and volunteer days over the next 12 months.

Nadia Macer-Wright, Founder of Cornish Gems, said: “At Cornish Gems, our connection to Cornwall’s landscapes and communities is at the heart of everything we do, so supporting The Thousand Year Trust felt like a natural partnership.

“The charity’s work to restore and protect Cornwall’s temperate rainforests reflects our commitment to sustainability and creating a positive impact for future generations.”

Cornish Gems is a leading independent holiday home specialist, curating extraordinary stays from its handpicked portfolio of luxury properties across Cornwall. As a certified B Corp, the company champions responsible tourism, supports Cornwall’s communities and environment, and delivers hospitality with heart.

Since 2017, Cornish Gems has raised almost £27,000 for organisations through its Charity of the Year initiative,  including Love Where You Are, Surfers Against Sewage, Cornwall Air Ambulance, the RNLI, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Truro Foodbank and StreetVet.

For more information, visit cornishgems.com or thousandyeartrust.org.