Many people know that there are several forest walks, lakes, rivers, beaches and waterfalls in the UK.
However, you may be surprised to find out that there are also tropical rainforests. Characterized by high rainfall and dense diverse vegetation, these habitats are thought to be found only in tropical locations, such as the Amazon rainforests in Brazil.
But UK travel content creator Amy Harry explored the Ridford Valley in North Devon, the deepest river valley in the southwest filled with temperate rainforest, a globally rare habitat. Travel fans have posted a video to Tiktok.
In the 9-second clip with on-screen text, “In the UK there is a rainforest…and it looks like this,” Amy is seen walking down a narrow aisle surrounded by a canopy of trees. There are also waterfalls and trees, but the main feature is the rich, green vegetation.
The caption of her post said, “This is one of the UK's rare temperate rainforests. These magical locations account for less than 1% of UK land, but are filled with moss-covered trees, ferns and incredible wildlife. Other examples can be found in areas like the West Coast of Scotland and parts of Wales.
“I was so happy. I finally got to visit and see it with my own eyes. There's something very special about walking around a place where nature thrives in such a lush, vibrant way.”
Woodland Trust, the UK's largest forest conservation charity, has given more insight into the temperate rainforest, also known as the Atlantic Ocean in Celtic rainforests. This “special” habitat is “incredibly rare” and is “thought to be more threatened than tropical rainforests.”
According to Woodland Trust, the “lushing state” of temperate rainforests is perfect for scary plants, lichens, fungi, and “amazing” birds and mammals. “It is sometimes called Atlantic Forest Areas, but temperate rainforests are found in areas affected by the ocean (where they are “highly marine”).
“These locations have high rainfall and humidity and low annual temperature variations. This unique habitat of ancient oak, birch, ash, pine and hazel forests is further diversified by open light, rocks, rocks, valleys and river valleys.”
Woodland Trust says that the UK rainforest is part of the coastal temperate rainforest biome. It explains the ideal conditions of temperate rainforests can be found along the UK's west coast, including Scotland's west coast, north and west Wales, Devon, Cornwall, Cumbria and parts of Northern Ireland.
Other temperate rainforests in the UK outside of the Ridford Valley are Auselwellwood, Greennsilde Ague Estate, Bobby Valley Woods and Loch Archive Pine Forest. The charity points out that even within the UK, the location of this species of forest may affect the state and species found on each rainforest site, for example, because the biodiversity of rainforests in southwestern England differs from that in northwestern Scotland.
Therefore, if you like to check out them, we recommend choosing one of these spots for your next stay.
