Topic analysis

Rare ancient rainforest in Northern Ireland set to come back to life

Ulster Wildlife has launched a 100-year restoration program to revive Northern Ireland's rare temperate (Celtic/Atlantic) rainforest at the 41-acre Lenamore Wood site near Gortin, Omagh, where nearly 30,000 native Irish trees were planted in early 2026, supported by Aviva's £38 million commitment to UK temperate rainforest restoration. The project, which will monitor ecosystem recovery and eventually open to the public, is part of broader efforts to protect these critically endangered high-biodiversity habitats that provide carbon storage and flood mitigation benefits.