Celebrating one of Kintyre’s unheralded natural treasures was on the agenda at Campbeltown Town Hall earlier this week, as the peninsula’s rainforests – yes, rainforests – were brought into closer focus through a fascinating talk.
People from many branches of the Kintyre community, including local landowners, private employers, civil servants, charity work leaders, and individual citizens with a keen interest in protecting the peninsula’s arboreal treasures, gathered in the town hall chambers on Monday, hoping to take the first steps on a pathway to properly preserving Kintyre’s temperate rainforest – also known as Atlantic rainforest – and with that, the other life forms which grow around them and live within their reach.
The seminar was led by Dr Jennifer Lane Lee, and Ed Tyler, SKDT’s community garden specialist, who is helping coordinate the trust’s Kintyre Grows activities, part of our Kintyre Climate Action campaign.

Special guest Dr Theresa Burriss, trustee/governor of Appalachian Sustainable Development, was also in attendance.
Reflecting on the meeting, Ed said: “It was great to be part of the session this week.
“In Scotland we have the largest area of rainforest in the whole of Europe – yet it is little known about by the general public, and only by specialist lichenologists and bryophyte experts.
“Our meeting yesterday will set so going that will change the narrative.
“Everyone needs to know about the precious plants, insects and animals that live in these beautiful, mysterious places that have somehow survived against the odds.

Eric Spence, SKDT trust manager, said: “Dr Lee gave a fascinating talk which was very informative.
“I, for one, had thought that rainforests were exclusively found in tropical regions.
“When I realised that we have our own pristine rainforest with extremely rare and unique fungi and lichen, right on our doorstep, it really opened my eyes to the need to protect and nurture these areas for future generations.”

And while the subject of temperate/Atlantic rainforest has been hidden under canopy with respect to other environmental talking points in the peninsula in years gone by, it is hoped that this meeting and future ones, will build knowledge of just how special the rainforests here are, and the pivotal role Kintyre people can and will have in helping to preserve them.
Want to know how you can help in Kintyre’s rainforest preservation? Contact Sharyn Lock by emailing climateaction@skdt.org or by calling 01586 552870.