TEMPERATE RAINFOREST FACTSHEETS

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21 May

Written by: Alejandra Hart and Danielle Semple

*Temperate Rainforest on Dartmoor. Credit: Lee Cooper*

Have you ever thought about what makes a temperate rainforest feel so alive?

From moss-covered trees and wooded river valleys to open glades filled with birdsong, these landscapes are shaped by a balance of water, light, and woodland structure. Restoring these natural processes helps create healthier, more resilient habitats.

We’ve created a series of factsheets looking at different approaches to rainforest recovery and how they can be integrated into farms, woodlands and wider landscapes:

Rainforest Creation: Temperate rainforests are made up of a mosaic of habitats, from dense woodland and scrubby edges to open-grown trees and healthy river systems. Different establishment approaches, including woodland creation, assisted natural colonisation, planted copses and parkland systems, can help create resilient and varied landscapes.

Structural Diversity in Woodlands: Some of our richest rainforest habitats are open, dynamic and constantly changing. Creating glades, integrating grazing and encouraging scrub regeneration can increase light levels, support natural regeneration and create the varied woodland structure that species such as lichens, mosses and ferns rely on.

Rewetting Rainforests: Water plays a vital role in keeping rainforest landscapes healthy and resilient. Natural interventions such as leaky dams, scrapes and willow planting can help slow the flow of water through the landscape, creating wetter and more humid conditions while helping to reduce flooding and drought impacts.

These factsheets are based on experience from rainforest restoration projects across the South West by the Woodland Trust Team.