BBC's Countryfile visited England’s largest remaining temperate rainforest, located in the Lake District, in its latest episode, exploring what it says is one of the 'rarest habitats on earth'.

Presenter Sean Fletcher takes viewers on an hour long exploration of the 721-hectare Borrowdale Rainforest National Nature Reserve, which has 'steep mountains, high humidity and rare creatures.'

Just this year, it was declared a national nature reserve. In the episode Sean met the team tasked with protecting the ancient landscape.

He first chats with nature conservationist advisor John Hooson. 

He said: "What the Natural Nature Reserve is doing is reflecting that national, international, global significance of this type of woodland here.

(Image: BBC) "We get 3.5 metres of rain on average every year. That compares favourably with the Amazon Basin, which we all think of as being very wet.

"They get two and a half to three metres of rain a year. 

"That's where the similarities end though as the Amazon is hot. It never gets hot here and the characteristic of this temperate rainforest is this more moderate climate right through the year."

The pair then go on to discuss that the rainfall, a north-facing aspect and the tree canopy keeping the humidity underneath are what create the rainforest-like conditions for mosses, trees and other wildlife. 

(Image: BBC) A project of this size depends on the support of those who work on the land. 

This is why Sean goes to visit farmer Robert Tyson who has 18 acres of traditional hay meadows on Moor Farm near Keswick.

Robert said: "I think we're privileged to have these meadows here on the farm.

"We've lost a lot of the traditional hay meadows and it's just good to have them brought back into the Lake District and get them flourishing again." 

(Image: BBC)

Sean goes on to learn further about the rich flora and fauna of the rainforest from naturalist April Windle. 

She explains microscopic lichen and moss which are crucial in turning a woodland into a rainforest.

When dusk falls in the rainforest, Sean goes in search of one of the UK’s rarest and most vulnerable moths and learns of its relationship with the touch-me-not balsam which explodes when touched. 

(Image: BBC) The show takes a couple of detours to look at the dangers of 'forever chemicals', meets a competitor taking part in the 50th Borrowdale Fell Race and some dry stone wallers.

To watch the show aired on Sunday, August 18, visit the BBC's iPlayer.