Hidden Dartmoor rainforest protected in rare Devon land deal

South Devon law firm Kitson Boyce has completed a rare transaction that will see a significant piece of land in Devon allocated as an all-important buffer zone for a temperate rainforest.

The firm acted for a historical farming client who wanted to pass the land over to The Woodland Trust for the sole purpose of creating the buffer zone on Dartmoor that will help protect the main area.

Although they are rare in the UK, temperate rainforests, also known as Celtic or Atlantic rainforests, do exist around the West Coast of Scotland, Wales and here in the South West of England. 

This specific type of land is characterised as having high rainfall and mild temperatures which results in an abundance of moss, lichen and ferns, all of which play a significant part in the ecological balance of an area.    

Christian Robertson, rural and coastal property partner at Kitson Boyce, said: “It’s always rewarding to complete a deal on behalf of a client that has a challenging brief and this one being so rare, made it especially rewarding. 

“As a Devon-based legal firm we completely understand just how important it is to preserve and protect the unique beauty that we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by, so to play our part is great for the team, the firm itself and of course the client.”