Exploring the UK and Ireland's rainforests

To mark the International Day of Forests, why not take a look at the rainforests at home… Yes, the UK and Ireland is home to rainforests too.

While the name suggests these forests are always rainy, rainforests actually refers to forests subject to the influence of the sea. As two island nations we have plenty of spaces like this available. The rainforests near us are usually dubbed as Atlantic woodlands.

Although we have miles of coastline, the ideal conditions lay on the western seaboard. Today, rainforests exist in Western Scotland, Devon, Cornwall, Cumbria, north-west Wales, Northern Ireland, and the south-west of Ireland.

Each contains uniquely biodiverse inhabitants, and offer the perfect conditions, high humidity mixed with low temperatures, for lichens and bryophytes which can be found in no other areas.

Like much of our nature, our rainforests are currently threatened. As their sizes shrink they are becoming fragmented and overgrazing from deer and other mammals isn’t allowing new trees to grow.