Celtic Rainforest Project Work

Welcome to the Celtic Rainforests Wales website!

Here you can learn about the Celtic Rainforests Wales LIFE project – Where to find your local rainforest, why this special habitat needs protecting, why it’s such a special place and lots more!

You can also learn how you may be able to help, or how about joining in at one of our events?

We aim to keep you updated as to what’s happening with the project, keep a look out for the latest news!

A little background information…

Thanks to European and Welsh Government funding, this is the start of a new chapter for Wales’ Celtic rainforests which are currently in an unfavourable condition. Through the eradication of invasive alien plant species and the implementation of proactive management the aim is to bring these woodlands back to their former biodiverse state.

Celtic Rainforests, which are mainly found in the UK, are considered of European importance owing to the huge diversity of species they support. These species thrive in open structured woodland with the mild and humid conditions that provide a perfect habitat for a wealth of vegetation.

Many of Wales' temperate rainforests are currently in an unfavourable condition and are continuing to deteriorate. The spread of the Rhododendron ponticum is primarily responsible for this deterioration because it alters the soil condition, prevents sunlight from reaching the woodland floor, and outcompetes and suppresses native vegetation. Other factors that affect the woodlands are over or under grazing, lack of management and atmospheric nitrogen pollution.

The project’s main aim is to improve the habitat for lower plant assemblages such as mosses and liverworts within these woodlands by tackling the issue of invasive species, especially Rhododendron ponticum, that threaten their conservation status. The project will also implement active management of the woodlands, including demonstrating active grazing and woodland restoration techniques which will improve habitat condition, demonstrate best practice, increase resilience and enhance the woodlands’ ecosystem function.

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