Britain’s temperate rainforests are among its most distinctive and internationally significant woodland habitats. They survive as fragments of a once more extensive Atlantic woodland landscape, often in steep, remote or inaccessible places where grazing, felling or conversion have been limited. Their ecological value lies not only in their trees, but in the humid, sheltered conditions that allow luxuriant growths of mosses, liverworts, lichens and ferns.

Despite their rarity and value, many sites are vulnerable. Key pressures include heavy grazing by deer and livestock, poor natural regeneration, invasive rhododendron, historic conversion to plantations, air pollution, pests and diseases, and climate change. Formal designations such as SSSI, SAC or Important Plant Area status do not always ensure adequate protection or management. However, the document also highlights positive opportunities: reducing grazing pressure, restoring Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), controlling invasive species, regenerating existing rainforest fragments, and expanding rainforest habitat at landscape scale.

The following details are summarised from The Forest Guides: England, Wales and Scotland.

England

England contains important temperate rainforest fragments in the north-west and south-west, especially in Cumbria, Exmoor, Cornwall and Dartmoor. These woods are often oak-rich, mixed with ash, birch and hazel, and support rare lichens, bryophytes and ferns. Many are designated as SSSIs, SACs or Important Plant Areas, although this does not always guarantee protection or appropriate management. Deer browsing and livestock grazing are major pressures, affecting ground flora, associated biodiversity and tree regeneration. The document suggests that reducing grazing pressure in upland rainforest sites, such as Dartmoor’s oakwoods, could allow natural regeneration and expansion of this rare habitat.

 

Temperate Rainforest sites in England:

• Young Wood


• Birkrigg Wood


• Keskadale Wood


• Ashness Wood


• Wild Haweswater


• Tarr Steps


• Millook Valley Woods


• Black Tor Beare


• Wistman’s Wood


• Golitha Falls


• Piles Copse


• Steeple Wood

 

Wales

Wales has highly significant temperate rainforest fragments, especially in the wetter western regions where high rainfall, mild winters and low pollution create suitable conditions. These Celtic rainforests are rich in bryophytes, including tree lungwort, and provide habitat for birds that are uncommon across much of Britain, such as pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler and lesser spotted woodpecker. Many sites are remnants of natural woodland that once covered much of western Wales after the last glacial period. Today, restoration is being supported by Coedwigoedd Glaw Celtaidd Cymru, or Celtic Rainforests Wales, which is working to improve existing rainforest fragments and support long-term expansion. Key challenges include grazing pressure and invasive rhododendron.

Temperate Rainforest sites in Wales:

• Coed Aberartro


• Coed Llechwedd


• Coed Cymerau Isaf


• Coed Felenrhyd and Llennyrch


• Coed Lletywalter


• Coed Garth Gell


• Gwenffrwd-Dinas


• Carngafallt


• Coed Cwm Einion

 

Scotland

Scotland has the largest and best-known Atlantic rainforest resource in Britain, concentrated in Argyll and other western coastal regions. Its rainforests are characterised by oak, ash, birch and hazel, often shaped by wind into low, broad, branchy forms that help maintain humid conditions for mosses, liverworts and lichens. Around 93,000 hectares of semi-natural ancient woodland remains in western Scotland, but only about 30,000 hectares contains the distinctive biodiversity of temperate rainforest, representing around 2% of Scotland’s forests. Major threats include invasive rhododendron, heavy deer grazing, air pollution, ash dieback and climate change.

A highly distinctive feature of the Scottish rainforest ecosystem is the ‘Atlantic hazelwoods’. Unique to the western fringes of the British Isles, these habitats consist of ancient, long-lived hazel trees growing in pure stands to form the primary canopy layer rather than an understorey. Devoid of human interference, these hazelwoods host globally significant arrays of bryophytes and specialized lichens like tree lungwort.
To preserve these fragile habitats, 20 conservation groups formed the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest, working collaboratively across entire landscapes to eradicate rhododendron, control deer, and expand the footprint of these unique habitats.

Temperate Rainforest sites in Scotland:

• Taynish


• Ballachuan


• Glenborrodale


• Ariundle


• Glasdrum


• Glen Fyne


• South Screapadal


• Knapdale