Update

Thank you so much to each and every one of you who has donated to William's legacy project. The Parkinson family could not be more grateful for your generosity, in all its forms.

We initially set out to raise £12,000 to guarantee the creation of the William Parkinson Living Laboratory on the rooftop of Europe's first temperate rainforest research station. Incredibly, we reached this goal in less than three weeks. This is a huge achievement - one that we all share, and of which we can all be immensely proud.

Inspired by your generosity and William's lifelong passion for the natural world, we want to keep going and make an even bigger impact in his name.

We are increasing our target to £100,000, which will extend the size of the William Parkinson Living Laboratory to take up the entire research station rooftop. The Parkinson family and friends are determined to reach this goal over the course of this year, and create a legacy that William would have been proud to call his.

The Living Laboratory

Throughout 2026, the Parkinson family are continuing to raise money to extend the William Parkinson Living Laboratory on the rooftop of Europe's first temperate rainforest research station. The station will be named in memory of William, our much-loved husband, son, and brother, who passed suddenly and unexpectedly this January at the age of 26.

The living laboratory will provide a home for significant research projects to facilitate the restoration of our temperate rainforest landscapes: a cause close to William's heart and situated near to his beloved home in rural Cornwall.

2026 Events Calendar

Here are the upcoming events that William's family and friends are undertaking this year to support his legacy:

SATURDAY 11 APRIL: A large group of William's family and friends will take part in a 10k muddy obstacle course in Cornwall. So far, this includes Lucy, Karen, Simon, Rachel, Jack, Sasha, Charlie, Paul, Sophie, Phil, Louise, Lara, Paul, Iona, Nicole, Darien, Michael and Alyssa.

SATURDAY 9 MAY: William’s godparents, Jane and Richard, and two of their children, Daniel and Ralph, will be running the Tatton Park 10k.

SATURDAY 11 JULY: William's friend Michael will be taking part in the British Long Distance Swimming Association Torbay Championship.

FRIDAY 31 JULY: William's wife Lucy and brother-in-law Charlie will begin trekking the perimeter of Dartmoor National Park (170k).

SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER: William's friend Nicole will swim the length of Lake Windemere.

SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER: William's sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Abi and Gwil, will be running the Berlin Marathon.

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER: William's family friend, Iona, will be running the French Riviera Marathon.

The Project

Temperate rainforests are ecologically rich and dynamic ecosystems that can be found along the western coasts of the British Isles. These ecosystems are characterised by their mild, oceanic climate, high rainfall, and an abundance of epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants).

Epiphytes, such as lichens and mosses, will be grown in the William Parkinson Living Laboratory. They will form part of several studies designed to safeguard the future of our temperate rainforests, including a pioneering initiative 'Growing Rainforests on Ropes'. Inspired by coral restoration, the project seeks to grow epiphytes on natural fibre ropes. This will help to accelerate and embed their recolonisation in degraded and newly planted rainforests, nurturing thriving, fully functioning temperate rainforest ecosystems.

The Thousand Year Trust is building Europe’s first station dedicated to Atlantic Temperate Rainforest research. As the only charity in the UK dedicated to the restoration of our temperate rainforest landscapes, the station will be a vital central hub for scientists, explorers and students to build enduring solutions together. In creating this space, The Thousand Year Trust will be facilitating long-term change by understanding the science behind rainforests, combating global challenges for our generation and contributing towards a more ecologically sound world for generations to follow.

Find out more about the research station here.

William's Legacy

William's life was cut short far too soon. He was intelligent, kind, and unerringly committed to bettering the world around him. We are determined to continue this commitment in his memory.

The work of The Thousand Year Trust aligns with William's deep love of the natural world, his passion for Cornish wildlife and his respect for scientific innovation. Located in the Cabilla Valley on Bodmin Moor, just 25 minutes from his home, this research station is particularly special: Bodmin Moor was his favourite place to walk with his wife Lucy and their dog, Bishop - not to mention one of Bishop's favourite places to explore.

In 2024, both William and Lucy started learning more about temperate rainforests. Before long, they were bringing field guides and hand lenses on their walks so they could identify mosses and lichens.

William was never happier than when hiking in the countryside with his family. To open the William Parkinson Living Laboratory and provide a home for rainforest-saving projects would be a fitting tribute to his remarkable life, in a landscape that already holds so many precious memories.

We hope that you might consider helping us to create this lasting legacy in William's name.

To learn more about this legacy project, please contact Lucy at lucy@hivestead.co.uk.

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