The largest temperate rainforest in England, Borrowdale in the Lake District, has just been declared as a National Nature Reserve. This unique habitat is also ‘the wettest inhabited place in England’ and the wet climate is part of what makes it so special.
What is a temperate rainforest?
Rainforests are something you might associate with South America, Africa or Asia but those are tropical forests. They occur between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. Temperate rainforests occur in cooler climates. They range between 40-60 degrees north or south (Masterclass).
Temperate forest requires a trio of climatic conditions: high rainfall, high humidity and low temperature variation. These conditions exist in less than 1% of the planet (The Woodland Trust). Also known as Atlantic woodland, temperate forests occur close to the western coast of the UK. These forests are part of the Coastal Temperate Rainforest biome, a rare and threatened habitat.
There are only fragments of temperate rainforest left in the UK. Sites are found in Argyll and Lochaber in Scotland, Gwynedd in Wales, and the south west coasts in Devon and Cornwall (The Guardian).
The wettest inhabited place in England
At the time of writing, most of England is very wet due to prolonged rain, but the Borrowdale valley, a 721 hectare National Trust site has earned the title of ‘the wettest inhabited place in England’ (Gov UK). The rainfall at the top of the valley is twice that of the lower valley, making it a lush and verdant valley.
To see just how wet the rainforest is, watch our video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-0gouIpUkk
The valley is full of rare plant species, lichens and bryophytes (mosses and liverworts). Trees include ancient oaks, birch trees and ferns that have grown there for centuries. They all store carbon. And they provide a habitat for birds like the pied flycatcher and a stronghold for the red squirrel.
To protect this unique habitat, the National Trust worked with Natural England to have the Borrowdale rainforest declared a National Nature Reserve in May 2024. The NNR is one of five planned for each year for five years to make 25 in total – the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves in celebration of His Majesty King Charles III’s coronation.
Biodiversity in the UK
The rich biodiversity is a feature of temperate woodland. It is one reason we need to protect it. Over the last two decades, the UK has lost 563,000 hectares (563 Kha) of tree cover. This is a 15% decrease in tree cover since 2000 (Global Forest Watch). Losing more temperate forest will mean losing more plants and animals that can only live there.
Conservation biologist Dr Susy Paisley of Newton Paisley designed a special piece of artwork for our recent ‘Pull My Thread’ exhibition at Brantwood in the Lake District. It featured the netted carpet moth which is only found in restricted areas, one of which is Borrowdale.
The netted carpet moth caterpillar feeds on the ‘touch-me-not’ balsam found in the forest. The touch-me-not balsam seed pods explode when they are touched, scattering the seeds. And sometimes, the caterpillars too.
Susy illustrates rare and endangered species in her artworks which are then printed onto linen fabric and luxury wallpapers for interiors. They raise awareness of conservation, and for every metre sold 100m2 of critical wild habitat is preserved through the World Land Trust.
Protecting our wild places is important for both biodiversity and carbon capture. Temperate forests need saving. Projects like Borrowdale can preserve unique habitats and endangered species for future generations to enjoy. Much of Borrowdale is accessible on public footpaths, so anyone can enjoy it. We encourage you to visit.
