A piece of Celtic rainforest in the south-west of Wales is to be restored – thanks to a bumper £38 million donation. 

The 59-hectare site in Pembrokeshire will be planted with species such as oak, small-leaf lime and wild service (Sorbus torminalis) and should support an abundance of mosses, liverworts, lichens and ferns as well as providing a home for animals and other plant life.

Its southern tip will connect to remnants of the Celtic rainforest in the Gwaun valley while in the north it runs on to open moorland.

Sarah Kessell, chief executive at the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said: “We’re delighted this rainforest restoration project at Trellwyn Fach can get started. 

"This site is ideally situated in the Gwaun valley, already connected to Celtic rainforest remnants and giving us the opportunity to buffer and extend this amazing habitat as well as improving access for the local community. 

"These are exciting times." 

The new trees will be planted around two standing stones, so it will look as if the monuments are positioned in clearings that might have been created by prehistoric people.

The project at Trellwyn Fach is part The Wildlife Trusts’ Atlantic rainforest recovery programme, made possible thanks to share of £38 million donation from Aviva.

Leah Ramoutar, director of environmental sustainability, Aviva, said: “We’re proud to see the Wildlife Trust add another site to the rainforest restoration project, helping Wales become more climate ready. 

"The site in Trellwyn Fach will connect with existing examples of this precious habitat, reestablishing natural corridors to benefit wildlife and add more natural beauty to this stunning part of Wales. 

"It will also provide flood resilience to nearby homes and businesses as well as green jobs and volunteering opportunities to the local community.”

Around two-thirds of the site will become broadleaved woodland through planting and natural regeneration, to buffer the existing woodland and to support the wider connectivity of remnant Celtic rainforest in the landscape.