The Borrowdale Rainforest is located in the Borrowdale Valley, stretching alongside Derwentwater, south of Keswick in the Lake District. As one of England’s largest remaining temperate rainforests, this 721-hectare area (often referred to as Borrowdale Oakwoods) is characterized by high rainfall, creating a lush habitat filled with ancient oak, birch, mosses, and ferns.
A temperate rainforest in the Lake District has been declared a national nature reserve in a move that will protect the rare ancient habitat for future generations. The Borrowdale rainforest is one of the few surviving examples of a “mysterious and untouched” landscape that covers less than 1% of the UK.
In Britain, temperate rainforest is only found in areas of western Scotland, Cumbria, Wales and southwest England, where suitable climatic conditions prevail and ancient woodland and trees have survived.
The woodlands you see in Borrowdale are almost all classified as rainforest and they are open to the public with many footpaths throughout the valley and along the shores of Derwent Water.
Rainforests thrive on every continent except Antarctica. The largest rainforests on Earth surround the Amazon River in South America and the Congo River in Africa. The tropical islands of Southeast Asia and parts of Australia also support dense rainforest habitats.
Borrowdale rainforest in Lake District gets protected status as national nature reserve
Is Scotland classed as a rainforest?
We manage native woodland of global significance, particularly in the West Highlands and Argyll. Here, Scotland's 'temperate rainforest' is home to ancient oak, ash, birch, hazel and Scots pine. It's also where you'll find rare and fascinating mosses and liverworts, lichens, fungi and ferns.
Seathwaite is listed as having 3,552 mm (139.8 in) of rainfall annually; this figure makes it the wettest place with rainfall statistics in England. The rain gauge used for this measurement is on the slope of Seathwaite Fell above the hamlet.
The English Lake District World Heritage Site has a land area of 229,205 hectares with 13% woodland cover, some 30% of the woodland is under Forestry Commission ownership or management.
People from Cumbria are known as Cumbrians and they speak a variety of the Cumbrian dialect to the north, whilst a Lancashire accent is more prominent in the south (namely Furness, which was once part of Lancashire).
What is the forest between Coniston and Windermere?
Grizedale forest in the heart of the Lake District World Heritage Site, offers an unrivalled day out for everyone. Breath-taking views, stunning artwork and endless forest trails, come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer!
Is the Lakes by Taylor Swift about the Lake District?
Inspired by her semi-retirement in Windermere, Taylor Swift was captivated by the Lake District's enchanting landscapes—and channelled that inspiration into her poetic song, The Lakes. Many fans consider it a highlight of her folklore album and one of the finest songs in her discography.
Living full-time in a UK forest is extremely difficult due to strict planning laws, as getting permission for a permanent dwelling is rare unless tied to a genuine, viable forestry business (like charcoal burning or full-time management) that needs a live-in worker, not just for recreation. While you can buy woodland, building a home on it usually requires full planning permission, which is almost always denied for residential use, though exceptions exist for seasonal forestry workers or short stays.
Nearly half of the National Park is within the rainforest zone. This exciting project, in collaboration with the Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest, is helping to protect and enhance this important natural asset in tackling the twin crises of nature loss and the climate emergency.
The Caledonian Forest is the ancient (old-growth) temperate forest of Scotland. The forest today is a reduced-extent version of the pre-human-settlement forest, existing in several dozen remnant areas.
The biggest wild land animal in Scotland, and the UK, is the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), an iconic native species known for the male stags' impressive, large antlers, thriving in the Highlands and across various landscapes like moorlands and woodlands, representing a significant part of Scottish wildlife.
What is the difference between a jungle and a rainforest?
With their dense undergrowth and abundant light, Jungles contrast sharply with the stratified and biodiverse rainforests, which boast a complex canopy structure and a more consistent climate. These differences are not just academic—they shape the flora, fauna, and the very essence of these ecosystems.
In Manaus, Brazil the border between urban life and wild nature is unlike anywhere else on Earth. On one side, a modern city of over 2 million people. On the other, the Amazon rainforest begins, home to millions of species and often called the “lungs of the Earth.”
