In a move that will protect the rare ancient habitat for future generations, Borrowdale rainforest in the Lake District has been declared a national nature reserve.
Less than 1% of the UK is made up with “mysterious and untouched” landscapes, of which the Borrowdale rainforest is one of the few surviving examples.
Temperate rainforests are usually found in wet and mild climates. A few of the ones left in the UK are found close to the coast, because the weather conditions are more regular there.
The wettest inhabited area in England, the Borrowdale valley, is located on the 721-hectare (1,782-acre) National Trust tract. It has been marked out as an area of focus for conservation and nature restoration efforts. The region’s heavy rainfall produces a humid atmosphere that supports and preserves old oak trees and other historically significant native species in a lush, lichen- and moss-covered woodland.
This habitat is often referred to as Atlantic oakwood, atmospheric Celtic woodland that once covered western Europe but has almost entirely disappeared due to natural climate change during prehistoric times and human deforestation in the 1800s.
The designation is a part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, an initiative to commemorate King Charles III’s coronation that will see the creation of five nature reserves annually for the following five years.
This should help protect the native rainforest which will in turn connect to other adjacent habitats and lessen the likelihood that local homes and farms will get flooded.
Nowadays, temperate rainforests are found only in small areas in Britain and Ireland, primarily in western uplands like Devon and Cornwall in England, Argyll and Lochaber in Scotland, and Gwynedd in Wales.
National Trust Praises Move As A Big Step
The National Trust said the move was a “big step towards caring for and enhancing the incredibly special rainforest of Borrowdale.”
Jade Allen, the Trust’s National Nature Reserve Officer, said that the organization was “incredibly excited” about the future of the site.
She stated, “Our hopes for the future are for the woodlands to be thriving and regenerating, for the biodiversity here to be improving, and to start reconnecting the woodland fragments for a more resilient ecosystem”.
Jade Allen further added, “By working with our local farmers and community, we are looking forward to better connecting people with the woodlands, wider nature and history of Borrowdale.”
Guy Shrubsole, the author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain, said that it was “fantastic” that Borrowdale’s rainforest was being recognized for its ecological significance.
“Like all of Britain’s temperate rainforests, the Atlantic oakwood’s of Borrowdale remain fragmented and under pressure so I very much hope this new declaration inspires farmers and landowners in the surrounding landscape to get involved in rainforest restoration, and benefit from some of the new government funding available for this.”
Guy Shrubsole
He stated, “By reconnecting rainforest fragments, we can make these rare, beautiful habitats more resilient to the climate crisis, whilst also helping reduce flooding downstream.”
Moreover, Jean Johnston, a senior adviser at Natural England, said England’s rainforests were “vitally important for wildlife, climate and water management” that were it became “ancient and special places” of huge value to local people and visitors.
She said, “We warmly welcome this renewed commitment to making sure they are looked after so that they are in the best possible health. We look forward to working with the National Trust and its farming tenants to help make the woods and ancient wood pastures even bigger and better than they are now.”
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