Britain's Lost Rainforests are Coming Back - Here's How

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[@LeaveCurious]

Lets rewild our feet together!! Head over to Vivo through this link tidd.ly/3K1gGUq and use code: LEAVECURIOUS to get 20% off *Thanks to Vivobarefoot for sponsoring this video enabling its creation and partnering with Leave Curious to get more people out into nature.

[@Jack93885]

I've been wearing a pair of Vivo Magna FG for a while and I can really recommend them. I think it's also worth noting/appreciating their repair service. I ususally wear my shoes until they're practically falling off my feet and knowing that I can repair instead of replace them is something I really appreciate.

[@LeaveCurious]

@@Jack93885 yeah absolutely, great point dude!

[@Adderkleet]

I don't have a problem with a sponsorship deal like this. But advertising standards (and KZbin TOS) require a clear and unambiguous audible "sponsored by" declaration BEFORE the ad read or endorsement bit. And the link in the video description should also be declared.

[@LeaveCurious]

@@Adderkleetregarding sponsored content KZbin requires creators to check the box for promotional content before uploading, which I’ve done & a message is displayed at the start of the video 👍

[@ellieban]

Literally just bought a pair. Wish I’d seen this first 🤣

[@TheLandOfJonny]

I have a 6000 year old patch of woodland by me, but developers keep trying to build houses up to its edge. We keep fighting against them!

[@Affelabibar]

Keep fighting, we cheer for you!

[@TheRobbex]

We need more detail. Publicise. Organise.

[@Alphoric]

Developers in a wet forest climate is the most mental thing that exists How can the government implement bad schemes like ULEZ because of the global environment but then completely forget about the actual British environment

[@Guy_makes_thing]

At this point we should stop calling those people "developers". Keep fighting the good fight!

[@marymcclavey8395]

Developers........BOO,...HISS!

[@PIants4life]

Here in Wales, the mountains are massive and beautiful, but then you realise that almost all of these were covered in forests, but because of the crazy amounts sheep, trees aren't able to even begin to grow 🫤 Also, great video! Thanks!

[@LeaveCurious]

could you imagine if they were covered in trees? what an epic land scape that would be. cheers :)

[@jammiedodger7040]

Yep Wales is really Barron one of my favourite features about Wales is there stone walls they blend in with nature so well and another thing is the roads majority of which follow the terrain which is what roads should do which gives you the feeling that you’re following the landscape bringing you closer to nature rather than just bulldozing through the landscape destroying habitats, ugly looking roads and just disconnecting you from the ground you drive on.

[@Brit-CK]

I'm hoping for the day when the grants for farming dry up and sheep won't be profitable anymore.

[@jonnoMoto]

there are woods but so much of it is conifer plantations. There is a small jewel near me in the south east of wales where they are gradually replacing conifers with natives. Really need to see more of it.

[@Adam_Davies]

I’m a Park Ranger in a small country park in South Wales and we have a small but very phenomenal temperate rainforest…. It’s such a special ecosystem and one I hope gets a huge increase in government and local council funding in the future! This problem is fixable if the priority and funding is high enough! Great video Rob 😁 keep inspiring people

[@kurtzwar729]

If you have remnant forests around a creek, just remove ALL browsers (sheep, goats and deer) and the forest will spread up the hillside. In Cairngorm Park in southern Scotland, the deer population is kept at a very low level (with master hunters) to allow the remnant forest to spread. Sheep, goats and deer will stop the forest spread. Give the forest a chance to return.

[@LeaveCurious]

yes over grazing really does kill the recovery our native forests. addressing this problem is paramount for real recovery

[@Suitswonderland]

"Master hunters" sure is intriguing, like we have rainforests though, they never went anywhere, but yeah, will gotta remember master hunters, never knew we were so Japanese.

[@agapitoliria]

Reintroducing wolves would actually be a better move.

[@V77710]

Carnivores reporting for duty 🍽️

[@jennyfernandez895]

Need to stop eating them then 💚🌱🐾

[@AndreasScharl]

Merlin is a wizard at explaining these rainforests and the need for rewilding for them to thrive! Wish you guys the best success with your fantastic projects!

[@e1123581321345589144]

Yes, it's rather enchanting. He's really trying to do something magical.

[@tomwhite7983]

I can only imagine the kind of forests Tolkein must have walked through to inspire his literature, that we can no longer go.

[@krisjonesuk]

Tolkien died in 1973. I don’t think we’ve lost any forests since then.

[@tomwhite7983]

@@krisjonesuk Tolkein was born in 1892. He was 18 in 1910. At the turn of the century, I have no doubt there would have been more woodlands around than in 1973. These would have been where he potentially spent his youth. Through his life he probably saw many of these places destroyed.

[@jtw1753]

The most magical forest on the planet is still alive and well, the Redwoods in Northern California. I recommend a visit in your lifetime

[@svenvalefisk8713]

In most of Europe, the late 19th and early 20th century were actually the low point for forests, and they've recovered since then because wood has largely been replaced first by coal, then oil and gas as a fuel source

[@howardrisby9621]

From his time in uniform, Tolkien would've been only too aware how much the trenches on both sides depleted forests. That was the original reason for establishment of the UK Forestry Commission

[@RolfStones]

Has Merlin considered starting a youtube channel to support his charity? He is a great story teller and has a great perspective. Never looked at humans as hyper keystone species. And that background story is something people will emotionally connect to.

[@airedale1913]

Yes, this! He should absolutely think about starting one, and other social media too - if he can reach the tiktok generation that could make a massive difference, and ditto for Mossy Earth and others.

[@ronward3949]

Treeplanting 2-3 year barefoot trees, can aid, micrositing trees is huge planters must find unique and defensible planting sites taking the specific needs of the Species needs, spacing, and getting into the brush or slash as young trees do get hidden, may have time to take root then start maturing into taller, larger individuals especially when mindful of the many variables aiding in site selection.

[@mcsenn]

Nothing beats Mads Mikkelsens brother, Lars Mikkelsen. Wonderful voice

[@ruthohare9840]

My little patch is totally spreading into the adjoining field, you would not believe the number of baby oaks in the long grass! 😁 We used to have goats but the last of them has recently been rehomed, so now it's just deer we have to worry about.

[@barblc3202]

there's also a link between the health of coastal rainforests and the health of kelp forests in the ocean in terms of sharing nutrients

[@LeaveCurious]

thats really interesting, will be making a video on kelp this summer, so will take a look at this

[@drvanon]

Really looking forward to that video. If you find this to not be true, would you mind posting here?

[@edwardmaddocks2779]

@@LeaveCurious also very interested in the link! look forward to video

[@edwardmaddocks2779]

​@@LeaveCurious I found this: 'Coastal rainforests help regulate the flow of nutrients, sediments, and freshwater into the ocean, which can directly impact the health of kelp forests . Excessive runoff from deforestation or poor land management practices can lead to increased turbidity, sedimentation, and nutrient loading in coastal waters, negatively affecting kelp growth and survival. Conversely, healthy kelp forests help protect coastal areas from erosion and storm surges, creating calmer conditions that benefit coastal rainforests . The dense kelp canopies dampen wave energy, reducing the impact on shorelines and allowing sediments and nutrients to accumulate, supporting the growth of coastal vegetation. Furthermore, both ecosystems are significant carbon sinks, playing a vital role in mitigating climate change . Coastal rainforests sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, while kelp forests absorb and store carbon in their biomass and in the ocean sediments through a process known as "blue carbon." The interconnectedness of these ecosystems highlights the importance of adopting an ecosystem-based management approach that considers the cumulative impacts on both terrestrial and marine environments . Protecting and restoring coastal rainforests and kelp forests can have synergistic benefits for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal resilience.

[@theryanhollis]

It is crazy that people think of those grass lands as nature. Those grasslands have all the natural characteristics of an abandoned open pit mine. It's a pretty good comparison considering that they are both a destroyed environment to harvest resources.

[@allolobophorus]

You need to plant shrubs with thorns first. Then the wildlife will use it as shelter from predators and poop out seeds of trees. With the protection by the thorn bushes the tree saplings will grow tall and eventually shade out the thorn thicket. It's the natural succession!

[@just_jen]

The problem is the solution.

[@esbrasill]

That is so very true, oak trees are not a pioneer species. If you plant them in open land, they don't survive without a lot of help. Merlin may want to plant a lot of pioneer species first, the oaks will appear by them self after a while.

[@hobi1kenobi112]

Exciting! I'd also like to add that places like Yorkshire and Derbyshire get missed out by official sources when discussing rainforests in England. There are plenty of healthy fragments out there, right over as far east as Sheffield and Barnsley. And likely loads more hiding out in these places as well as parts of Cheshire and Staffordshire I should imagine! It's great to see rainforests across Britain get more love and the topic pick up pace.

[@LeaveCurious]

yeah, it be really useful to know about these areas, patches of rain forest, from the perspective of recovery - maybe the zone is larger than we think

[@Northcountry1926]

Here’s hoping 🙏🏼

[@allolobophorus]

You need to plant shrubs with thorns first. Then the wildlife will use it as shelter from predators and poop out seeds of trees. With the protection by the thorn bushes the tree saplings will grow tall and eventually shade out the thorn thicket. It's the natural succession!

[@ciara1045]

also the republic of ireland!

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

You need to hurry then as many that I remember from childhood have disappeared over the last 10-20 years grubbed up , possibly for firewood as the land wasn't suitable for building houses on.

[@Maverick1.]

I long to see wales become more wild. I feel it would also attract tourism from the rest of Europe as most of the tourism is from England atm

[@SirRobinDeSway]

Does Wales really need more tourism? A little is good..A lot more is not. A lot more destroys the very thing the tourists have come to see,,to experience.

[@Maverick1.]

@@SirRobinDeSway I guess not. Though if you want to get the government on board they like to know they are getting something in return

[@charlottescott7150]

This is fantastic. I live near Wistman's wood. I am so lucky. I hope that people respect it.

[@daniadejonghe4980]

what an utterly magical and enchanting landscape

[@exileisland2675]

If tropic jungles are the boisterous, party kids then temperate rainforests are the moody, alternative kids.

[@jonnoMoto]

Glad you brought up the fact the impact people have on wistmans. Ive been walking on Dartmoor for decades and the last time i went to wistmans i was disgusted at what i saw. Broken bottles, cans, cigarette ends, plastic wrappers. I brought out what i could but It's hard to have faith in people these days. I went up to Dewerstone rock this weekend from clearbrook via the Dartmoor way. Dogmess in bags. None on the way out but brought back the ones i could. So tired of the mess people make.

[@MsCheesemonster13]

I really don’t understand people who go to these places because they (presumably) recognise how beautiful and special they are, but then just chuck their rubbish all over the place. If you like a place enough to visit it, why would you want to ruin it? It doesn’t make sense to me.

[@Scriptorsilentum]

makes me think the idea of Royal Parks should return: NOBODY save the King and his foresters allowed in. do that for 100 yrs and then open the parks so people can see...

[@-xirx-]

he's got enough of england's land to himself already. EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION. teach people, most importantly children, about our conservation/countryside/rainforests that instil a sense of pride, wonder and shared ownership. This involves giving people the chance to experience it for themselves, not just see it in photographs in books about the royal estates.

[@ITSC2252]

I don't see the same extent of rubbish as you describe in the south east of Western Australia where we go for hikes, but you'll never escape the signs of inconsiderate people fully. It's tiresome, but we have to do it.

[@MsCheesemonster13]

I was puzzled by the dog poo bags, but I have a theory about that. People going on a long walk don’t want to carry the bags on them because they stink, so they place them somewhere meaning to pick them up on the way back, but of course they inevitably forget. I carry a brightly coloured little bucket with a lid, when we go walking so I can dump my dog’s poo bags in it, and then dump the lot of them in the dog waste bin at the end of the walk. It probably makes me look a bit strange, but I don’t care as this works for me.

[@Peter.R.M.]

In Sussex the Knepp Estate use Blackthorn and Hawthorn as part of their rewilding to act as protection for young saplings, including Oak, to naturally repopulate the landscape. Could this method also be used to re-establish temperate rain forest? it would seem to be a better option than planting new trees and it would enable the native Oaks to recolonise and create new woodland. The Oaks would eventually crowd out the thorn as the canopy developed.

[@ferret5772]

That is correct the only difficulty is people, people are impatient and want instant effect whereas a natural succession requires time, the hawthorn and blackthorn react to browsing pressure by producing more thorns hence they become natural barbed wire.

[@jujitsujew23]

I’m from the PNW in America and it’s interesting to see how different your rainforest looks to ours. Some day you should visit western Washington and see our rainforest. A walk through the Hoh rainforest will stay with you forever

[@LeaveCurious]

It’s a place I’d love to visit :)

[@huskytail]

All temperate rain forests seem to be very different from one another. I've been in one in Bulgaria, it's part of the Colchian rainforests arc and it's very different from the American and British ones. All of them amazing places ❤

[@kikiwylde]

We have temperate rainforests in parts of Australia as well. The ones I've visited look nothing like the British rainforest 💚

[@davekershaw3695]

It’s so wonderful to see our younger generations getting involved in these rewilding projects. Great video! 🙏

[@solarpunkalana]

Another great video Rob! Merlin's just as great at explaining Cabilla on camera as he is in real life. Ennia and Harrison are very on it with the need for community-first rewilding. It's so important!

[@lewis1552]

I would love for you to do a visit to the Peak District! A landscape that is misunderstood by tourists and the intensive sheep farms and monoculture moorland have replaced ancient woodlands. I live in Froggatt woods and teach bushcraft as a way to give people a understanding of their place within the Nature The problem is that not enough people care about the woods

[@charliecare3682]

whats your company called id be very interested, thanks

[@lewis1552]

​@@charliecare3682it's called Into Wilderness Bushcraft

[@HammyCantFly]

This is a really excellent video! I enjoyed learning about the UK's temperate rainforests and how passionate people are trying to replant and maintain what's left of them. Maybe North America can take a similar approach to replanting the Carolinian forest.

[@Scriptorsilentum]

science thinks it's fairly close to breeding american butternut that are resistant to that japanese fungus that wiped them out. Here's hoping...

[@yoho...]

your the best thing happening in the uk rn. Thanks for all your work!

[@LeaveCurious]

Ah well I don’t know about that, but thanks!

[@emil_rainbow]

Make a habit of collecting native local providence seeds (not beech or sychamore). Pot them up and grow on for 2/3 years and then Sabre/Cover Plant wherever possible (not in polluting plastic guards). Prune 1-1.5m straight alder and willow shoots and insert directly into wet soil to a depth of 50cm. Denuded riverbanks/streams are a good place to start.

[@Scriptorsilentum]

willow is an incredible species for stabilising soil. I wonder if lilacs are native to the Br Isles? ever try pulling up the roots of a lilac? good way to have a stroke.

[@emil_rainbow]

@@Scriptorsilentum Willow, in all its varieties, is a key riparian and wet heathland pioneer species. Syringa vulgaris is an invasive.

[@samsimms4403]

Best channel EVER!

[@LeaveCurious]

amazing first comment to see! thank you!

[@jeromecoward9370]

Merlin casually dumped tons of information without making it boring. I wish my uni lecturers were like merlin!

[@markosullivan6444]

Another fascinating, powerful video, Rob! I can definitely agree with the benefits of tree planting; getting local people involved and invested. I help look after a little ancient woodland in Cheshire and our tree planting events (planting in areas cleared of invasive sycamore saplings) are very popular and give people a chance to learn about their local biodiversity hotspot. It's definitely worthwhile, in conjunction with natural regeneration. Personally, I'm thrilled when I see new oak, rowan, and hazel seedlings pop up in Hob Hey Wood.

[@LeaveCurious]

yeah tree planting is more than just putting trees in the ground - anything we can do to bring people out together into environments is crucial

[@Scriptorsilentum]

is sycamore native to europe/UK?

[@markosullivan6444]

@@Scriptorsilentum It's native to parts of Europe but not the UK. It spreads readily and so can replace our native trees in an ancient woodland. Native trees are much better for wildlife which is why we're replacing any new grown sycamores.

[@philiptaylor7902]

Great video Rob. The good news is that if the conditions are right, regeneration can occur really quickly. The common where I live reverted from open heathland to woodland in little over 50 years when grazing stopped. I remember Guy Shrubsole covered some examples of this in his book, which everyone should read, by the way.

[@cyberRowboat]

is it possible to increase hunting in order to keep deer population in check ..until we are able to reintroduce the keystone species?

[@WharnieWhittler]

Maybe we should start using them as a food source since they seem to be thriving so well?

[@Zzzooooppp]

'we just have to show it to them' wow you nailed it, this footage really speaks for itself. incredible and beautiful stuff

[@Davidpa79]

Very interesting and inspiring, thank you.

[@LeaveCurious]

pleased you enjoyed the video :)

[@latheofheaven1017]

Great video. I'm a bit ignorant about trees, and didn't realise that beech trees are non-native, and don't support 10% of the wildlife that oaks do!

[@Theorimlig]

They are native to the UK, but possibly not to the area in the video. I doubt the claim about the much lower species count, too.

[@verycool6022]

⁠@@TheorimligIt’s unfortunate that many ecologists don’t keep up with the latest literature. In much of my country the Netherlands this actually prevents having sustainable forests in the future because most of our native species are dying or already disappeared because of climate change and new pests and diseases (oak, ash, poplar, elm, maple, beech) we almost will have nothing left except willows and non natives… Also to get to your point it is true that beech is native even to scotland according to the lastest literature. But many ecologists still claim they are non native since that is what they learned back in the day.

[@billyfullwood4974]

​@@verycool6022Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is believed to be non-native to Cornwall. I speak from much observation and experience (I live in Cornwall and work as a botanist)- woodland dominated by Beech is far less diverse than woodlands dominated by Oak.

[@morgansmith1930]

I believe I've read that beech woods support specialist, shade-tolerant plant species - fewer species than the oak, maybe, but often rare and valuable. (I'd also read that they're native to the southern UK, but from what everyone else is saying, it sounds like the literature's been shifting recently.)

[@anniehill9909]

Oh, I so hope they are. Such wonderful, magical landscapes. More power to all those working to preserve and restore these - and please, can we start reintroducing lynx, so that we can get some help from Nature in dealing with the deer issue?!

[@craig2795]

Wow - don’t think I have learnt so much from not just watching a video but in reading the comments too - what an awesome community.

[@user-lw6qj1yn7h]

I go to the Peak District quite a lot, we've been calling it the Derbyshire Temperate Rainforest for years because the mosses, lichens and trees are so lush

[@morgansmith1930]

Definitely! It's beautiful up there. We even found ferns growing in the trees (covered head to foot in moss) along the Derwent near Cromford, where it's sheltered by cliffs. I'll have to start calling it that - it's certainly an area that deserves more attention.

[@rabidfurify]

It's a shame people tend to think of this area as exposed hilltops and grazing land, because the forested areas are absolutely beautiful. And much more fun to hike through on a hot day, the temperature and humidity difference under the canopy is amazing!

[@steelwolf180]

Do a KZbinr collboration with "Fandabi Dozi" i think it will be a awesome collaboration in living with nature and rewilding,

[@LeaveCurious]

oh yes, love his videos, will have to get talking!

[@RobertJones-ku4fg]

Merlin was an amazing guest so knowledgeable and a great communicator!

[@marianacoelho8746]

This is so wonderful, Merlin is so insightful and speaks so reverently about the forest and the thousand year trust folks are doing such important work! I especially appreciated what they said about wanting to invite and incorporate indigenous knowledge and practices that have been supporting and sustaining thriving rainforests for thousands of years. Really great! So glad I watched this!

[@marksando3082]

I love temperate rainforests. Spent most of my adult life in the Puget Sound region and the Hoh Rain Forest out on the Olympic Peninsula is delightful.

[@glenmorrison8080]

5:21 Southern California botanist here. I'm a big fan of minimalist shoes for going off trail (cross country). When I have big boots on I end up crushing plants and accidentally flipping sticks and junk up at my legs, but in barefoot style shoes, I just glide through the habitat leaving little trace and much more comfortably. I also sometimes just remove my shoes and socks entirely when passing through areas dominated by invasive grasses with sock-unfriendly sticker seeds. That shit doesn't stab you unless it can get anchor in some fabric, like your socks, so going barefoot makes it's a more pleasant experience. Just gotta watch out for rattlers and thistles, haha.

[@tclarkson2000]

I love the rediscovery of Britain's rainforest history! It also blows my mind that in Australia we have the world's oldest at 180 million years! (The Daintree Rainforest). Magnificent both!

[@abyssal_phoenix]

Wished i could see something like this across the north sea! The Netherlands really needs some more nature Would love to see more farmland being ready to slowly start to be converted back to peatmarch with birch forests and meadows. Best I'm doing now is trying to multiply some wild foraged endangered peatberries (family of red currants, it's a subspecies) They are okay to grow, when treated the same as blue berries :)

[@fundlemander]

I've had my Magna Forests for about 2 years, and they're still one of my favourite shoes to have around. As a dyspraxic person, having that ankle mobility and ground feel is really important for when I'm climbing, and even just on my work commute. Makes me happy that one of my favourite shoe brands are sponsoring one of my favourite KZbin channels!

[@LS-kg6my]

WOW!! Now I know where the English fairytales come from!

[@ellieban]

A truly ancient woodland is “a hundred thousand fingers sticking up from a giant mushroom”. Yes!! We see the stem and the leaves because they’re above ground where we are, and we assume they’re the most important part of the tree, but they’re more like lungs and stomachs. The REALLY important stuff happens under the ground. Trees can live without trunks and leaves, and they can live like that for a long time if they’re plugged into the network. They can’t live without roots.

[@Ghost-Mama]

Another wonderful video Rob!! The scenery was absolutely brilliant and the photography is amazing! I find your positivity absolutely breathtaking. Thank you! 💚

[@louislamonte334]

Thrilled to see the progress! There is a huge, long way to go but the restoration is beyond beautiful and encouraging!!

[@Conus426]

Still cant get over how beautiful the moss and lychen-covered oak trees are... twisting and turning into the sky. It looks too perfect to be real

[@philcourteney4328]

I’m an ex tree surgeon and we toured some of the upland oak forest fragments on a college trip, they’re stunning! I also happen to have gone to school with Guy, never realised he’s become a ST Bestselling author!

[@johnnyvegas459]

Here in NZ we've always had some parts covered in forest. The areas around where I live in the south. The trees are gone but a lot are slowly regenerated. Like manuka, beech, totara white pine black pine. Coniferous forest. But thanks to the English we do have traditionally planted European woods. Ash, oak, alder and maple forest. Which are beautiful

[@howardrisby9621]

Throwing some great shapes there Rob.👍 It really needed pointing out we're in NO position to critisise other places for clearing native rain forests (or any other flavours of wooded lands). The last time we even had half an excuse was lining the trenches in WWI. Such a relief to see magnificent efforts to stem and reverse the dozens of centuries lunacy.

[@bryanbadonde9484]

That Merlin dude is a poet! I rewound his monologue twice.

[@mr.lonewolf8199]

Those forest looks like they are straight from fantasy movies

[@scunge2667]

Its really cool to see temeprate rainforests being appreciated in the UK. I'm from New Zealand, which before colonisation by humans was nearly entirely temperate or subtropical rainforest. Here, temperate rainforest preservation is a big focus of conservation but you never really here it talked about anywhere else overseas. I'm glad these places are being more appreciated in the UK, it's up to people like you to bring them back :)

[@nikkan3810]

The amount of moss is frankly stunning, amazing stuff.

[@mcsenn]

Just came home to Denmark after I spent 5 days in the Lake Districts. Did hiks from Ambleside, out to Rydal, Dove Chag, Red screes to name some. Along our hike we were talking about the planting of trees in the dales. We saw all the white plastic pipes along every mountain. We saw how wet everything was. How the water was running under the peat and soil, forming springs or even waterfalls. How every stone or tree that could be covered, would be covered in moss. A family member mentioned how much it looked similar to a rainforest. A thousand thanks for your content! Great to watch 👌🏼

[@joblo341]

Cool! Best of luck. Have you considered installing fencing around small sections of regeneration. Fence an area you can afford and maintain. Once it grows big enough to survive browsing, fence another ... Have you considered encouraging "civic minded" groups, ie Scouts, Masons, Ladies clubs, Garden clubs etc to "adopt" a section of forest. Have them fund raise for fencing. Have them "weed" if necessary. The idea is that the group "owns" the forest rather than individuals so there is continuity as people move on. I saw a similar pitch by another group in the UK.

[@cjenko87]

Merlin is so inspiring. I’m so glad you connected with him.

[@eliforeal5261]

Always love your videos Rob, thanks for all you do for spreading awareness of rewilding! I'll do my part and share this video now!

[@troo_6656]

Biomes like these always make me think of Fangorn from lord of the rings. Wouldn't be exactly surprised if they were what inspired professor Tolkien in his description of these places.

[@WildlifeWithCookie]

fantastic and seamless ad mate

[@dawsie]

It has been over 40 years since I have visited some of those areas mentioned, I forgot how much I loved walking there. I live in Australia now and unlike the UK woodlands and forests it’s just not easy to walk them here as they don’t have woodsmen who look after them. They are too dangerous to walk some of them here you can only go on the well trodden paths which once done you never want to go back again as it’s not as pleasing. The undergrowth is such that it harbours deadly spiders and snakes. It’s full of fallen branches and trees to the point that it’s unsightly. It’s nice to see that many of the rain forests are being nurtured back to health and that there is a proactive approach to helping them to grow like they should have been able too.

[@waxon2]

@LeaveCurious Thank you for such a great presentation. I'm grateful for the details of the mycelial connections and the sharing of intelligence. Beautifully done.

[@SMoorcroft]

Love this video, thank you. I am so fortunate to live in Kintyre, and we are working hard at Kintyre Rainforest Alliance, to protect and regenerate our stunning rainforests. Add in Rhododendron ponticum to the list of serious threats to our rainforests, a massive issue here.

[@zacklightning3277]

The more I see the landscape of Britain and Ireland the more I realize how much inspiration you can get for certain types of stories like Lord of the rings and Harry Potter because it is incredibly strange landscape like these rainforests you showed

[@kyleb6236]

I hope to see these beautiful rainforests one day. The forests that my ancestors once walked in!

[@kristiangustafson4130]

I deer-stalk in an ancient forest. When I have encounters with the public, I try to take the opportunity to explain the importance of keeping numbers to a reasonable level to allow the forest to continue to be as beautiful as it is. The forest exists because of hunting (it is a large estate kept as an ancient hunting reserve, so was not cut down for ship-building oak) and can only continue to exist with hunting.

[@herokindon]

...or we could advocate for the reintroduction of apex predators

[@kristiangustafson4130]

@@herokindon in a country with 278.98 people per square kilometre? Let's not even talk about food production and animal husbandry. You're in a fantasy land.

[@GuidoHaverkort]

3:25 that is the single most coolest tree i've ever seen

[@HedgeWitch-st3yy]

These woods are really beautiful. Have come across the 1,000 year trust before after seeing this environment highlighted in the wild isles series. Would also love to hear about the People's Plan for Nature created by a people's assembly from across the country in terms of how it might relate to the kind of projects you show. Would love there to be a long term strategic plan across the country reflecting local needs and conditions that joins eco-restoration and food security.

[@pippaseaspirit4415]

I’ve been a barefooter for over two decades now; I don’t wear footwear unless I absolutely have to. It only takes 6-12 weeks for most (undamaged) feet to acclimatise to going barefoot.

[@FXCartel]

My feet are messed up my little toe sits under my other one and causes blisters. Can't go barefoot cos I work with cars 😭 shoes are messed up

[@DavidCruickshank]

@@FXCartel If you need a steel toe wide toe box shoe they do exist, just rare. Examples include the birkenstock QS 700 which is a 'nonslip, oil and petrol resistant, steel toed boot' with a wide toe box. If you have money to burn, gaucho ninja makes very high quality barefoot boots that are fully ISO rated safety barefoot boots. It just depends how much money you have and are willing to spend on not have blisters anymore.

[@Polariceotope]

What a beautiful place and a purpose.

[@LeaveCurious]

wonderful isn't it!

[@thrashhippie]

Fantastic video! We die without trees and bees 🐝 🌳

[@seanjamescameron]

Lots of the fir trees are being removed at the head of the Rhondda around Treherbert and it’s nice to see the open spaces again.

[@NickExplores]

I need to get out and go visit these beautiful places!!

[@LeaveCurious]

Get yourself there Nick mate! UK might be pretty well fragmented, but theres lots of beauty to see

[@Jo3M]

Awesome to see. Here in NZ the problem is remarkably similar. Deforestation is almost always the same, people create farmland and see no value in the native forests until they are nearly fully removed. A total lack of large predators here means we have large amounts of recreational and professional hunters employed to control browsers. Forests with unmanaged deer have a canopy with no undergrowth. I'm inspired to catch some of the local work here on camera to share like yourself, thank you

[@ilikevideos4868]

Britain looks like if Saruman had won

[@itsjudystube]

We cleared lots of forest for world war 1 and 2. We cleared loads during the napoleonic wars. We cleared loads during the times of the Armada. It wasn’t only for agriculture.

[@Boofi-quat]

Britain is absolutely surreal for someone who’s only ever lived in a natural place, with natural forests and natural plains. Across the whole island, there is not a foot of ground that has not been modified for the use of man at some point; not a *single* square foot, and this started as soon as the ice caps melted. Staggering. Surreal.

[@todosmentira336]

Top of the cairngorms perhaps? That's pretty much arctic tundra.

[@Boofi-quat]

@@todosmentira336 potentially

[@Gambit771]

What rot. There are rainforest that haven't been touched nor modified. Do you have any evidence to back up your outrageous claim?

[@Boofi-quat]

@@Gambit771 Except *perhaps* in the far reaches of Scotland, yes. There is basically nothing that hasn’t been either clear cut or managed. There may indeed be very old unmanaged rainforests that still exist, but I strongly doubt they are older than the 1200s. Bear in mind that the peak arable land usage in the islands was in the Bronze Age, and if I had to guess I would think very little if any icecap-retreat virgin growth remained by that time. But wood is essential for metallurgy, so also bear in mind that managed forests were constantly being planted and replanted even as far back as that.

[@todosmentira336]

Yes but it’s not surprising for a small temperate island with a long history of migration and settlement on the edge of a relatively densely populated continent - what are you comparing it to ? The wildernesses of the Americas ? They are on a totally different scale.

[@cushmanarmitige2369]

We need this supported nationally, we need to bring back what we've lost.

[@GustavSvard]

Hearing about how there's overpopulation of large herbivores, including invasive ones, due to lack of predators, that makes me glad we have it so much easier for such up here in Sweden. Bears, wolfs, lynx, wolverines. yup, we got them already. But even with those we still have had the wild boar population grow from some that escaped (or "escaped") from a few specialist farms in like 1980 to a few hundred thousand wild ones these days. Which I guess will now help sustain those predators. There's even talk of introducing the Visent!

[@butterscotch1554]

OMG i have no idea Britain has rainforest, its so beautiful almost like in the story books...!

[@alanmcmillan6969]

It is essential to bring back this important part of our country, to regenerate and care for out temporate forests. and we can.

[@CRAZYCR1T1C]

Let it all come back!!! It will be amazing for the wildlife.

[@tomasaurusstack6200]

I think one problem facing forest regeneration at least here in ireland is that a lot of people think mountain areas look much prettier without trees, i know people who would perfer if the entirely treeless mountains remained that way cause they think it looks better from a distance

[@susanfarley1332]

I visited a park in the US where everything was covered in moss and lichens. It was the most otherworldly place i have ever seen.

[@DavidCruickshank]

So glad to see another fan of barefoot shoes. Healthier feet for a healthier environment!

[@robertstorey7476]

I have found this subject absolutely absorbing since reading the book you refer to. We definitely should find some space to let the remaining bits of temperate rainforest expand quite a bit more. I think as knowledge of them is becoming more general there is going to be a real public appetite to visit and experience them so its not illogical.

[@dawelch69]

Agree that native apex predators should be carefully reintroduced. Here in the USA, they’ve reintroduced wolves into Yellowstone National Park, and the woodlands have flourished.

[@elliotlane3225]

Really informative and inspiring. I started watching Leave Curious and Mossy Earth at the same time as reading Guy Shrubsole's book and found these sources all compliment each other and informed my views on this subject. I think both interviews in this video touched in an important point, its not just about planting lots of trees, its about ongoing support and opportunuty for habitats to develop. There needs to be a sensible and informed discussion about the management and removal of invasive species, be it plants like Himalayan balm, rhododendrons etc, or deer and grey squirrels to allow the return of these ecosystems. Loving the content! 🌿

[@funnywolffarm]

Thanks as usual for the video; must say, though, your interviews on this one were of high quality. I hope you continue to drive toward tapping into these resources.

[@Affelabibar]

We need you in Sweden!

[@ChrisWhite.fishing]

The lack of trees struck me when I was in Salisbury training polygon. Now I see the same in South sweden.

[@ninalehman9054]

Those look magical.

[@michaelsargeaunt]

What I would like to know, is what is the natural primeval forest in the South and East of England if Temperate Rain Forest is endemic to the west?

[@Alex_Pro_A]

It's shoking how much western comunity says about "Brazilians shouldn't cut down thay rainforests" and in the same time totally ignore we have our own rainforests in our own land that we can keep & restore with less effort. Glad that you share this issue, because I was not aware that we actually have our own rainforests here in Europe.

[@jodipokorski4354]

I love the reforestation idea because here, in Missouri, forests are being bulldozed to make pastures. Then the gigantic piles are burning causing smoke to cover the land. It's sad to see.

[@TD-np6ze]

Reminds me a little of the ancient rainforests in Washington and Oregon States of USA. Also, only 200 yrs ago a traveler complained of almost Entire Parts of the Eastern States so covered by tall trees!

[@marcusmartinez7855]

This guy at the 9:00 minute mark - is super dialed into the story. Really listen to his story and interpretation. It reminds me of elements from the movie Avatar. His comment, ‘’we have to start thinking non-human and long-term. Humans think in 2, 5 and 10 years. Beyond 10 years it is irrelevant to us. Instead, we should think long term’’. VERY profound - good story, video and write-up.

[@raymiemiller1455]

I was not expecting Britain to have epiphytic ferns! That's something I associate with the Neotropis.