Defender names the Thousand Year Trust, the UK’s only conservation charity dedicated to the restoration of temperate rainforest landscapes, as an international winner of the inaugural Defender Awards.
Based in South West England, Defender recognises the charity for its pioneering work to protect and restore the UK’s rare rainforests, shaped by the climate from the Atlantic Ocean.
A fifth of the UK used to be covered in these rainforests – now at only 1%, the Thousand Year Trust aims to restore 10,000 acres of these rare ecosystems, including Bodmin Moor, by planting 1.28 million native trees.
The Thousand Year Trust will receive a Defender 110 vehicle and £100,000 bursary to support its pioneering project to regenerate rainforests across the UK. To find out more about Defender Awards, click here
Whitley, UK – 22 January 2026: The UK’s only charity dedicated to restoring rare ecosystems, known as Atlantic temperate rainforests shaped by the mild wet climate brought by the Atlantic Ocean, has been named a global winner at the inaugural Defender Awards. The Thousand Year Trust is one of only six international winners securing a tough and capable Defender 4x4 and a £100,000 bursary to support its restoration missions across the country.
The Thousand Year Trust’s ‘Cornwall Rainforest Project’ will restore 10,000-acres of Bodmin Moor, an area rich in biodiversity which includes ancient moss draped trees, carpets of ferns and rare and rich wildlife that inhabit the woodlands. By planting 1.28 million native trees and capturing 220,000 tonnes of harmful CO2 e from the atmosphere, the project aims to slow climate change and restore a healthier, more resilient landscape. The Defender will provide invaluable support acting as a mobile base for surveys, transport to remote locations and locally for schools engagement, and ensuring the charity can take its empowering work to any terrain where it is needed.
An integral part of the charity is the outreach to upland farmers and landowners across the country to help support them transition to more nature-friendly land management methods, as well as further the charity’s ongoing research into Britain’s rainforests.
Defender, the original British adventure brand, launched the Defender Awards to recognise heroes across the globe in four categories: Land, Wild, Humanity and Sea. Selected from a 56‑strong shortlist, the Thousand Year Trust is one of six outstanding global winners, joining a collective recognised for exceptional work spanning biodiversity and ecological restoration in the UK and Japan, wildlife conservation in Italy, vital healthcare provision in Australia and marine protection in South Africa and France.
Defender Awards represents a £1m commitment and extends the brand’s long-established support for conservation and humanitarian causes, following 70 years of partnership with the British Red Cross and two decades of collaboration with African conservation charity Tusk.
The winners were selected by a panel of expert judges. Defender Managing Director Mark Cameron co-chaired the international committee alongside conservation biologist and founder of Wildlife Conservation Action, Dr Moreangels Mbizah from Zimbabwe.
Entries were evaluated based on how they aligned with the chosen award category, the impact the project is making, the level of innovation in the operation and how the addition of a Defender 4x4 would contribute to the project’s success.
Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, founder and Managing Director of the Thousand Year Trust, said:
“Britain has always been a rainforest island at heart, and with Defender by our side, we’re more determined than ever to bring those lost landscapes back to life.
The Defender Awards give us the chance to take this message further than ever before—working hand-in-hand with farmers across the country to restore rare ecosystems while supporting sustainable rural livelihoods.
This support will help us unlock remote corners of Bodmin Moor through a 10,000-acre restoration programme, reconnect habitats, and scale a model that benefits both nature and rural communities.
It’s about looking beyond quick fixes and committing to the long view—creating living, breathing rainforests that future generations can cherish.”
Mark Cameron, Defender Brand Director, said: “Selecting our winners from an incredible shortlist of 56 global projects was tough but we believe those chosen best reflect the conservation and humanitarian heroes around the world that are embracing the impossible every day. We can’t wait to see the impact that the Defender Awards will have on these inspiring projects in taking them to the next level.”
Defender is a brand with purpose at its heart. Its humanitarian roots can be traced to the first Series Land Rovers of 1948. The winners, which are all taking direct action to alleviate suffering or bring about positive change, reflect Defender’s commitment to support the heroes who embrace the impossible every day.
Dr Moreangels Mbizah, Co-Chair Defender Awards judging panel, said: “Every one of the award nominees is making a real difference to the planet and embodies the true spirit of Defender. We hope our community-led winners will thrive and flourish with the support offered by Defender and make an even bigger positive impact around the globe.”