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Rhododendron ponticum might just look like a pretty pink flower you can spot in a garden or on a walk, but there’s so much more to the story. Did you know it’s an invasive non-native species destroying native wildlife and our temperate rainforests? Our Rainforest Advocacy Officer Erin Shott explains.
Imagine, it’s summertime and you’re enjoying a lovely afternoon walk, and you see this pretty pink Rhododendron flower everywhere, a stunning look across the landscape. Unfortunately, what you are seeing is an invasive non-native species known as Rhododendron ponticum.
First introduced to the UK in 1763 as an ornamental shrub, this plant, like many Victorian garden escapees spread across the UK until it could be found in just about every corner. There are many types of rhododendrons which are not invasive, but the ponticum variety is a particular problem.
The invasive Rhododendron ponticum is known for dominating the landscape, supressing the growth of young native trees and shading out internationally rare plant and lichen species. It also disconnects native woodlands from one another. It’s this characteristic that makes it a major threat to temperate rainforest and other native woodland habitats.
Once it’s established in the wild, removal of the plants is possible but not easy. Repeated rounds of control are necessary, taking anywhere from 3 to 5 years and costing huge amounts of money. In fact, £3.39 million was spent on Rhododendron ponticum control between 2015 and 2022 in England.
Rhododendron ponticum is a significant threat to the UK’s rainforest. As 1% of habitat, temperate rainforest is considered one of the rarest habitats globally. High rainfall and humidity along the UK’s west coast create perfect conditions for the greatest concentration of oceanic lichens and mosses in Europe.
But rainforests face a number of threats and challenges, including climate change, air pollution, inappropriate grazing (either too much or too little) and Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) leading to a highly fragmented landscape in need of care and restoration.
We are dedicated to restoring the UK’s temperate rainforest. We are currently working with partners in removing this invasive species and restoring the environment, including through the Rainforest Restoration Project in Cumbria, the South West Rainforest Alliance, the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest and the Alliance for Wales’ Rainforests.
Every rainforest across the UK is threatened by INNS, specifically Rhododendron ponticum. In fact, every State of Rainforest Report published to date has listed Rhododendron ponticum as a major issue for the rainforest. The State of Scotland’s Rainforest report says that invasive Rhododendron ponticum is found in 40% of core rainforest sites. Similarly, the State of Wales’ Rainforests report released in 2023 also highlights the issue, calling it a significant threat to rainforest with 66% of sites requiring intervention on INNS.
The most recently published State of Temperate Rainforest in South West England report notes Rhododendron ponticum as the most widely problematic INNS in rainforest, found in 20% of lowland temperate rainforest sites.
Despite how widespread the issue is, there are still steps that can be taken to reverse impacts of invasive Rhododendron ponticum. The good news is that we can take action to reduce this threat:
The specific genetics surrounding Rhododendron ponticum are complex; after its introduction, it cross bred with 2 species from north America. This means that not all invasive Rhododendron is the same, some are a hybrid (a cross between the two species) and some are not.
At the moment invasive Rhododendron ponticum and any of its hybrids are listed as a Schedule 9 (Part II) species in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Section 14 of the Act ‘makes it an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild any plant listed in Part II of Schedule 9 to the Act’.
Britain is home to one of the rarest habitats in the world – the temperate rainforest. But how would you know if you were walking in one?
Dave Lamacraft, Plantlife’s Lichen and Bryophyte Specialist, heads out to discover a wealth of extraordinary lichens which call Wales’ rainforests home.
Air pollution often poses the biggest danger to internationally rare habitats and nitrogen gases have the potential to destroy our temperate rainforests.
Lichens on a tree infected with ash dieback have been rescued and given a new home in a bid to save them.
The rescue mission, using tried and tested translocation methods, saved 2 rare lichen species in the Lake District. Read on to find out how our experts did it.
We recently discovered 2 rare lichen species at risk in the Lake District’s unique temperate rainforest. They were growing on an infected Ash tree and needed to be moved to ensure they continued to thrive in this habitat.
The tree has been infected with ash dieback meaning it is at a high risk of dying or collapsing in a storm.
Our experts translocated some of the lichen from the infected Ash tree to a nearby Hazel tree in the Lake District, home to some of the UK’s rare temperate rainforests.
The high rainfall, humid temperatures and ancient woodlands provide a perfect climate for rare lichens to survive.
Alongside a beck in the Lake District, our team identified Black-bordered Shingle Lichen and Stinky Sticta on a mature Ash tree.
Stinky Sticta Sticta fuliginosa is so called because it smells like rotten fish when wet! It is blackish brown when wet and dark grey-brown when dry. The lichen has rounded lobes that turn down at the edges.
Black-bordered Shingle Lichen Parmeliella thriptophylla looks like a dark stain on the bark of trees. It has a coral-like structure and can normally be found growing on either bark or rock surfaces in damp shaded woodlands. The lichen is blackish when wet and brown or grey-brown when dry.
Both these lichens are rainforest indicators and are members of a group of lichens that we have an international responsibility to protect.
To translocate the lichens, our experts carefully removed small fragments of both lichens and the top surface of the tree bark with a pen knife. Young and healthy-looking parts of the lichen were chosen as they were still growing.
They were then taken to an area of trees about 10m along the beck, chosen because of their similar conditions, to give the lichens the best chance of survival. In this case, a Hazel tree with similar high bark pH was chosen.
The lichens were attached to the tree using plastic mesh netting and stapled in place.
Both Black-bordered Shingle Lichen and Stinky Sticta need air flow, light and access to water – which the mesh can allow. The lichens were translocated onto a horizontal branch, with similar conditions to their original location, allowing the lichens to be easily wetted by rainfall.
Many lichen species rely on Ash trees for survival .Ash Fraxinus excelsior is especially important for a community of lichens which grow on more alkaline or ‘basic’ tree bark. The survival threat facing Ash trees, caused by ash dieback, means these important habitats are gradually disappearing.
Ash dieback is a fatal fungal disease caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. More than a quarter of the UK’s lichen species can be found on ash trees, but ash dieback is now widespread across much of the UK.
Both lichens in this rescue mission needed to be saved from the infected Ash tree because we did not know how long it would remain a viable host tree. As Ash trees die off, the bark dies and falls from the tree, taking any lichens on the bark with it.
Translocation is never a first option for lichen conservation work, but to ensure the survival of some species, it is necessary.
Careful consideration is given to the species of lichen and the recipient tree in all cases.
This is a long-term project and we won’t know how successful the translocation has been for some time. The Stinky Sticta should show signs of taking to its new tree earlier than Black-bordered Shingle Lichen.
The site will be monitored regularly, but signs of complete success could take up to 10 years to show.
Did you know that the rainforest can glow in the dark? Or that it’s home to plants which were on the Earth before the dinosaurs?
If you go down to the woods today, you might be in for a big surprise!
Join us on a deep dive into temperate rainforests to find out some facts that might surprise you.
Read on for our most fun, fascinating and fantastical facts.
Often when we think about rare rainforest habitats, our minds are drawn to the tropical forests such as the Amazon rainforest in South America, or the Congo rainforest in Africa.
However, temperate rainforests are actually rarer than its tropical cousin.
This incredible habitat once covered up to 20% of the UK, however now it’s been reduced to less than 1% of the land area. In England, this means that only about 18,870 hectares remain. [2]
The remnants of the last rainforests are at risk still and face a number of threats including inappropriate grazing and browsing, pollution and invasive species – meaning protecting our rainforests is more important than ever before.
Temperate rainforests right here in the UK, are not only stunningly beautiful habitats – but also globally important ones. They are home to some of the rarest species on the planet, and in fact there are species in our forests that are found nowhere else on Earth.
These species include:
Temperate Rainforests have a vital role in improving air quality – filled with oxygen producing trees and plants. While it’s tricky to show data specifically for temperate rainforests, we know that UK woodlands, which include rainforests, drastically reduce air pollution.
In fact, in 2020, our woodlands removed 32,800 tonnes of PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, which can cause health problems when inhaled), from the atmosphere. These include some vehicle emissions, dust and smoke. [4]
Like a portal to a time before humans – temperate rainforests contain a link to what the world was like when dinosaurs walked the earth!
These habitats are ancient ecosystems themselves – but some ferns, mosses, liverworts and lichens pre-date humans, flowers, trees and even dinosaurs! In fact mosses and liverworts are examples of ancient non-flowering plants that have been around for 400 million years.
The UK’s precious, prehistoric rainforests are dangerously close to extinction due to invasive species, pollution and disease. But we cannot afford to lose them.
Will you join the national movement of people saving our magnificent rainforests? Please donate to rescue UK rainforests from extinction.
OK, so the rainforest isn’t going to be all aglow like a scene from Avatar – but if you’re lucky, you might just see some of the glowing species that call the rainforest home.
Bioluminescence is a phenomenon where a living organism can produce and emit light. While biofluorescence is where organisms reflect a different colour than the one they absorbed. These processes can be seen in species of lichen, moss, fungi and even insects, that can be found in woodlands, including temperate rainforests in the UK.
Unfortunately, most of the species in the UK don’t produce enough light to see with the human eye.
One species found in UK woodlands is Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea, which is bioluminescent, and has glow in the dark gills! The glow from Honey Fungus is very weak however, and is usually too faint to be seen by the naked eye in a woodland environment. There’s also the rare Synarthonia astroidestera lichen. [5] [6]
Woodlands, including rainforests, keep a huge amount of air pollution out of our atmosphere. This pollution can be inhaled and enter our bodies causing health problems.
It’s estimated that the pollution our woodlands removed in 2020 could have caused health problems that would have cost the UK around £995 million in healthcare. [7]
According to the Office for National Statistics, these avoided health problems not only include respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, but also deaths.
Therefore, UK woodlands, including temperate rainforests, have not only helped save us almost £1bn, but they’ve even saved lives!
Temperate rainforests play a crucial role in carbon sequestration. While it’s well known that trees store carbon, did you know that lichens, moss and even fungi found in our temperate rainforests can all help to lock carbon away. What’s more, these species can lock away extra carbon, on top of the carbon that the trees they live on store. This makes temperate rainforests some of the most efficient carbon stores. [8]
It’s not hard to understand how the mystical majesty of these stunning habitats has inspired humans over the years.
The mist settling over dense ferns in the early morning, dappling light streaming through the trees and being surrounded by song from countless birds, has certainly been a source for many creatives.
In fact, temperate rainforests have been a muse for poets, storytellers, artists and authors. One of the most famous examples is Wistman’s Woods on Dartmoor – which was said to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s setting for The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Our connection with temperate rainforests goes way back to our ancestors, who believed they were magical places.
There were many stories of fairies, witches, mythical beings and magical happenings.
In Scotland there are tales of the sprite, Ghillie Dhu who is said to be the guardian of the forest. [9]
Temperate rainforests in the UK are not just home to a rich variety of plant and fungi life, they’re also buzzing with insects!
This thriving insect life can attract visitors from thousands of miles away. A number of birds fly all the way from Africa to nest and rear their young in our rainforests. Visiting birds to look out for include Wood Warblers, Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers. [10]
Join us as we take a look back at what went right for nature in 2025.
Read how 2 lichens were saved, from a tree infected with ash dieback, in a translocation rescue mission in the temperate rainforest.
Experience the sights and sounds of the temperate rainforest first hand, with one of our guided walks to celebrate World Rainforest Day.
We are teaming up with Cumbria Woodlands to host a full day of activities for you to explore, learn and wonder at the beauty of our temperate rainforests. Discover the species that survive nowhere else on earth, and meet the experts working to recover these forgotten habitats. There will even be the chance to take a trip into a real rainforest to experience the wonder of these habitats first hand!
You can find out more about the sessions before the walk here.
After lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in a guided walk at one of four different locations in the northern Lakes. You will be guided along your route and your leader will take every opportunity to show you some of the incredible species of Cumbria’s temperate rainforest, for you to experience the magic first hand!
This walk will take place at Great How Wood, and transport will be provided to and from Rheged Events Centre.
This walk will take place at Wesco and Burns Wood, and transport will be provided to and from Rheged Events Centre.
This walk will take place at Naddle Forest and transport will be provided to and from Rheged Events Centre.
This walk will take place at Aira Force and transport will be provided to and from Rheged Events Centre.
Get ready for a full day of celebrations! Discover the secrets of the temperate rainforest through talks, music and even guided walks to experience the wonder of these habitats first hand.
We’re teaming up with Cumbria Woodlands to host a full day of activities for you to explore, learn and wonder at the beauty of our temperate rainforests. Discover the species that survive nowhere else on earth and meet the experts working to recover these forgotten habitats. There will even be the opportunity to take a trip into a real rainforest to experience the wonder of these habitats first hand! You can book onto a walk separately using the links in our What’s On page here.
Our rainforest activities will take place on World Rainforest Day on June 22. The day will begin with a drop-in session where you can explore Cumbria’s temperate rainforest and meet the organisations who are on the forefront of the work being done to protect these special habitats. Tea and coffee will be available.
We will then be showing an exclusive screening of Cumbrian music producer DJ Werkha’s SATURAMA. This beautiful, immersive film shot at Naddle Forest by Joel Hepworth and Ryan Cooper, is designed to show you the magic of temperate rainforests, and is brought to life with a live soundscape installation by Tom Leah. Werka’s SATURAMA inspires us to form a deeper connection with our natural world and protect it as we would each other.
Following SATURAMA, we will be hosting a panel discussion bringing together experts from across the country who represent a variety of different professional sectors. Together we will be exploring how collaboration between sectors can make us so much more than the sum of our parts when it comes to making a positive change for nature.
9am – 10am: Arrival at Rheged Discovery Centre. Attendees must register their parking with the venue to avoid paying a parking fee. Tea and coffee will be available in the Blencathra room, while you take some time to learn about Cumbria’s temperate rainforest from our partners.
10am – 11am: SATURAMA – live installation by DJ Werkha in Screen 2
11am – 11.15am: An opportunity to stretch your legs and grab a hot drink before returning to Screen 2 for the panel discussion
11.15am – 11.45am: ‘How can we work together to save our rainforests?’ – Your chance to ask questions to our experts to discover how everyone can be involved to protect and restore our temperate rainforests
12.00pm – 12.30pm: Lunch will be served in the Blencathra Room. Please indicate when booking your ticket if you have any dietary requirements or allergies
12.30pm – 1pm: Get ready to leave for your guided walk! Walk leaders will be waiting outside in the car park with minibuses ready to transport you to your guided walk location! Please ensure you have booked your space on the guided walk of your choice
1pm – 1.30pm: Travel to guided walks – find out more about the individual walks on our What’s On page here.
1.30pm – 3.30pm: Guided walks. This is your opportunity to experience the magic of temperate rainforests up close! Please inform your walk leader if you have any accessibility requirements or pre-existing medical conditions that they need to be aware of.
3.30pm – 4pm: Travel back to Rheged Discovery Centre
The Rainforest Restoration Project aims to increase the quality and resilience of temperate rainforestsacross the northwest and southwest of England, including Cumbria.
The Rainforest Restoration Project is a collaboration to protect one of the rarest and most amazing habitats on Earth – the temperate rainforest!
We have joined forces with a number of organisations and conservation charities with the shared goal of improving the quality and resilience of our amazing rainforests.
Across the northwest and southwest of England, including Cumbria, we will be working on the ground to restore this incredible habitat.
We want to shout from the treetops about these incredible habitats to raise awareness. Many people don’t know we have temperate rainforests in the UK, what they look like, or why it’s so vital that we protect them.
Our aim is to inspire people to love and care for the rainforest – through outreach, training events and sharing practical advice on woodland management.
And of course we’ll be getting hands on too! Some of our planned work includes:
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 high annual rainfall and low annual temperate variation in these areas provides ideal conditions for lichens, bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), and ferns to flourish. The nature of the rainforest changes significantly with variations in this climate and with human influence on the landscape.
Our rainforests are home to some intriguing and rare species of lichens, ferns and lower plants like mosses or liverworts, that cannot survive anywhere else. Some of these pre-date humans, flowers, trees and even dinosaurs!
Once covering up to 20% of the UK, temperate rainforest is now confined to less than 1%, due to a number of threats including:
We need to work now, to protect these amazing habitats.
The #Species Survival Fund Rainforest Restoration Project is being led by the Woodland Trust in partnership with Plantlife and other organisations including Cumbria Woodlands, Cumbria Connect, Rusland LSG and Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
This project is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
Meet the politicians who are working with Plantlife as Species and Nature Champions to see plants and fungi better represented in policy and action.
From our work deep in the forests of the Caledonian Pine woods to the wild north coast – species are at the very heart of what we do.
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