A STUNNING English rainforest has been declared a protected nature reserve thanks to its “mysterious and untouched” landscape.
The half-term holidays are just around the corner, with forests and parks being a popular choice for families planning days out.
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One place families might not have considered visiting is Borrowdale Rainforest in the Lake District.
Borrowdale Rainforest is the biggest temperate rainforest in the country, and one of the last remaining examples of a “mysterious and untouched” landscape in the UK.
The area has been named a national nature reserve as part of the King’s Series – a scheme celebrating the coronation of King Charles III that aims to create five new nature reserves over the next five years.
The new status should help conserve the rainforest by linking it up with other nearby habitats.
Even though most people associate rainforests with tropical environments, countries with milder – and wetter – conditions have their own type of rainforests too.
Temperate rainforests are found in mild climates that produce heavy rainfall, so it’s no wonder that there are a few in the UK.
The high rainfall creates a humid environment helping moss and ancient oaks thrive.
These unusual rainforests once covered as much as 20 per cent of the UK, but now only account for 0.4 per cent of the country.
Spanning more than 1,700 acres, Borrowdale Rainforest is thought to be the wettest inhabited place in England.
The habitat in Borrowdale Rainforest is sometimes referred to as Atlantic Oakwood thanks to its Celtic woodland.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Borrowdale Rainforest every year where they can explore the woodland via its many footpaths.
Guy Shrubsole, who is the author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain, described the news as “fantastic”.
He added: “Like all of Britain’s temperate rainforests, the Atlantic oakwoods 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.
“By reconnecting rainforest fragments, we can make these rare, beautiful habitats more resilient to the climate crisis, whilst also helping reduce flooding downstream.”
There are several other unique temperate rainforests in the UK, including Cabilla in Cornwall, Cambrian Wildwood in Wales as well as the Caledonian Forest in Scotland.
There are plenty of other stunning woodlands and forests in the UK that Brit holidaymakers can visit.
Other forests to visit in the UK
One of those places is the New Forest National Park.
Set across Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire in Southwest England, The New Forest National Park is home to wild ponies, deer, hiking trails, and its very own theme park.
The summer is the best time to visit, with highs of 21C often forecast.
Inside the UK’s free ‘indoor rainforest’
Exploring the Amazon rainforest or going on an adventure in the jungles of Borneo might seem like impossible dreams for some.
But at the heart of a UK city there’s a huge rainforest-like attraction, with hundreds of exotic plant species, that can be visited for free.
The Barbican conservatory in London is described as both a “utopia” and “a favourite” place for those living in the capital.
The indoor garden is the second largest conservatory in the city, but it doesn’t cost anything to enter, with guests able to meander around its walkways and paths at their leisure.
Small terrapins and exotic fish can be seen swimming in ponds inside, adding to the feeling that you’re in a tropical landscape.
Meanwhile, these camping etiquette mistakes will make other campers hate you.
And these are the best campsites to visit in the UK.
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