NI's Hidden Rainforest: A Century-Long Restoration

Northern Ireland harbors a rare temperate rainforest, an ancient and precious woodland ecosystem distinct from tropical varieties. Ulster Wildlife has launched an ambitious 100-year restoration program to revive these habitats, which are among the most biodiverse and threatened in the UK and Ireland. Just 0.04% of Northern Ireland's land is ancient woodland.

The project at Lenamore Wood, near Gortin in Omagh, involves planting nearly 30,000 native trees of Irish provenance, such as oak, alder, and rowan. The first trees were planted in February and March 2026. This extensive effort is supported by partnerships, including a significant commitment from Aviva. While initial growth will be visible within a year, the trees will take a full century to mature.

These temperate rainforests, also known as Atlantic or Celtic rainforests, thrive in areas with high rainfall and mild temperatures, supporting rich biodiversity with mosses, lichens, and complex woodland structures. They provide critical environmental services like biodiversity protection and carbon storage. Historical analysis indicates these forests once covered much of Ireland but were significantly cleared for agriculture and development, with major losses occurring between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Restoration efforts also extend to private initiatives, like that of Eoghan Daltun on the Beara Peninsula in west Cork, who has been rewilding his farm for 17 years. Monitoring at Lenamore Wood will include fixed-point photography, bird and butterfly surveys, and bat monitoring to track the ecosystem's recovery. The site will eventually be opened to the public, offering a space to connect with nature and witness the forest's long-term development.