For many of us, the term ‘rainforest’ no doubt conjures up images of the Congo Basin in Africa or the Amazon jungle in South America. But we don’t always need to think so far afield when considering rainforests; think the Morvern peninsula on the west coast of Scotland or the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
To help familiarise you with our own Celtic Rainforests, here are five facts about this incredibly rare and special habitat.
Part of the reason these habitats are so rare is because they have very specific requirements, including high levels of rainfall and year-round mild temperatures. So all those dreich Scottish days are definitely good for something!
Image credit: Andy Robinson
With rare habitats comes rare species. Birds such as Pied Flycatchers and Wood Warblers flit between the trees, while mosses and lichens carpet the forest floor. The prevalence of mighty oak trees, which can provide homes for an estimated 2,300 different species, lends our rainforests another name: Atlantic oak woodland.
Image credit: Ben Andrew
If all those brilliant birds and lovely lichens are giving you itchy feet, fear not, some of the best remaining patches of rainforest in Scotland are on RSPB Scotland nature reserves. There are fantastic trails just waiting to be explored at Inversnaid and Glenborrodale. Please be respectful and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code while you’re out on your rainforest ramble.
Unfortunately, Scotland’s Rainforests face a myriad of threats, most prominently from overgrazing and the spread of invasive non-native species. We’re working hard to tackle these threats, such as by removing Rhododendron ponticum from our Glenborrodale nature reserve.
As much as rainforests are incredible places for nature, they provide a whole host of other benefits too. From attracting tourists to providing local schools with an outdoor classroom, from trapping carbon to providing canopy cover for livestock, they are among our most precious resources.
At RSPB Scotland, we’re proud to be part of the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest. Alongside our partners, we’re committed to protecting and restoring these special places, so they can benefit people and planet long into the future.
Header image shows a tree-covered hillside meeting the shores of a loch. Credit: Stephen Magee.