UK Nature and Environment

The total number of forests in the UK makes up an estimated 3.25 million hectares. They’re vital habitats for plants and wildlife, help sequester carbon and give us the air we breathe. A walk in the woods also benefits our mental and physical health. It invites us to slow down, revel in their beauty and find a greater appreciation for nature.

What Kind Of Forests Are There In The Uk?

Broadleaved woodland is common throughout the UK comprising trees that don’t have needles (e.g. conifers). Common trees are beech, ash, oak and birch.

In Scotland, tiny pockets of native Caledonian pine which once made up a vast forest still exist around lochs and glens.

New native woods have been planted to restore habitats while ancient woodland from around the 1600s or earlier only covers 2.5% of the UK.

Some of the rarest types of woodland are temperate rainforests. Referred to as the Atlantic or Celtic rainforest, it’s thought to be even more threatened than tropical rainforests.