Most people are familiar with tropical rainforests, but rainforests can also grow in cooler climates - these are known as temperate rainforests. This is a globally rare habitat, found in the British Isles as well as a few other countries including Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and Chile. The temperate rainforest of the British Isles is also known as Atlantic woodland or Celtic rainforest.

Temperate rainforests are wet, wonderful places full of life. The trees that grow there include sessile oak, birch, rowan, holly, alder, willow, and hazel. They often have open glades, or rivers cutting through rocky gorges. What really makes a temperate rainforest special is the rich tapestry of life that grows on and around the trees. Ferns, mosses, liverworts, and lichens seem to cover every surface, from the ground to boulders, crags, and even the trunks and branches themselves.

Temperate rainforests are also excellent stores of carbon, from their rich soils, to the trees and plants growing within them, which lock it up as they grow. With benefits for wildlife and carbon, it's imperative this special habitat is protected and restored to help us tackle the nature and climate crises.