Two temperate rainforests in Wales and on the Isle of Man have been named as the first to be restored by the Wildlife Trusts, as part of a wider programme to help the rare habitat recover across the British Isles.
Temperate rainforests, also known as Atlantic or Celtic rainforests, are found in places with exposure to the sea – areas with “high oceanicity” – and receive high rainfall and humidity, with a low variation in annual temperature. It is a globally rare habitat, thought to be more threatened than tropical rainforest.
Rainforests in Britain cover just 1% of the country, as they have mostly been destroyed by agriculture and development over hundreds of years. Temperate rainforests are very lush and often contain rare plants, lichens and fungi.
At Creg y Cowin on the Isle of Man, more than 28 hectares (70 acres) will be planted with native tree species, and 8 hectares will be allowed to regenerate naturally.
The Manx Wildlife Trust will also look after non-planted areas such as lowland heath, fen-meadow, waxcap grassland and ponds, to provide a mosaic of habitats for wildlife. They will use conservation grazing in some areas to maintain diversity of habitat. The charity hopes oakwood dwellers including wood warbler, pied flycatcher and redstart will return, as well as raptors, owls and woodland invertebrates.
The area will also aim to bring benefits for the local community, as it is hoped it will increase water purity for the West Baldwin reservoir and help with flood prevention, and contribute to a nature recovery network in the Isle of Man.
At Bryn Ifan, Gwynedd, the North Wales Wildlife Trust will plant 40 hectares of rainforest on Bwlch Mawr, the mountain overlooking Bryn Ifan. It will use native planting as well as natural regeneration to boost temperate rainforest. While some areas will be dedicated to nature-friendly farming, conservationists will also improve nearby wetlands to help the marsh fritillary butterfly. Tree species will include oak, birch and alder, and the area will be managed by conservation grazing.
Guy Shrubsole, environmental campaigner and author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain, said: “There’s real momentum now to restore and expand our amazing temperate rainforests, and it’s brilliant to see the Wildlife Trusts advancing their plans.
“But this should also be a kick in the pants to the UK government. If ministers want to see more farmers and landowners follow the Wildlife Trusts’ example in restoring rainforest and other vital habitats, they need to unlock funding, support the removal of invasive rhododendron, and publish a rainforests strategy for the country.”
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Rob Stoneman, director of landscape recovery at the Wildlife Trusts, added: “We’re delighted these first rainforest restoration projects can now get started. They’ll provide vital habitat for wildlife in a time of nature crisis, store vast amounts of carbon, and benefit local communities for generations to come. Restoring this gorgeous habitat will also allow adaptation to climate change, reduce threats from extreme heat, flood and drought, and enable local people to reap the benefits.”
The wildlife charity has been given funding by Aviva for nature-based projects that will remove carbon from the atmosphere and help nature recover.
