The Living Rainforest has developed substantially over a number of years. For many decades, the site was home to one of Europe's leading orchid nurseries, Wyld Court Orchids. In 1991 a conversion began, led by the philanthropist and former head of Russell and Bromley shoes, Keith Bromley. In 1993, a new rainforest visitor centre opened to the public, Wyld Court Rainforest, featuring plants and animals from the world's threatened rainforests. In 1996, the centre was donated to the World Land Trust and in July 2000, it was passed on to The Living Rainforest, an independent educational charity led by Karl Hansen.