COUNTRYSIDE charities have come together with fire bosses in a bid to reduce the likelihood of more moorland fires occurring as the warmer months set in - after a huge area was charred earlier this month.
The RSPB, National Trust and the National Fire Chiefs Council are asking visitors to the countryside to help prevent wildfires.
The recent warm and dry weather has increased the risk of fires being sparked, which can cause devastating impacts on people, wildlife and precious greenspaces.
The charities are providing easy measures for the public to follow that can help prevent fires, keep people safe and protect the environment and the wildlife that calls it home.
The call comes after a fire broke out on the famed ‘Eastern Edges’ of the Peak District on May 16, which start in Dunford Bridge and go to Ambergate.
An area of approximately 300m by 100m of moorland was burnt.
Thanks to the joint efforts of fire and rescue services and site teams, the fire was extinguished within hours.
Despite this, teams remain on alert and are now assessing the extent of damage caused and potential impacts on wildlife.
The site is home to ground-nesting skylark which are in the peak of their breeding season.
The RSPB’s chief executive, Beccy Speight, said: ““We are grateful for the care and caution that most of our visitors take when exploring RSPB nature reserves and the wider countryside.
“However, fires can be started by items that people wouldn’t even consider a risk.
“The use of disposable barbecues is not allowed at RSPB sites as they are an obvious fire risk for green spaces, but even a glass drinks bottle left in dry heather, grasses or leaves can start a fire on a sunny day.
“A discarded cigarette-end flicked can quickly turn into a blaze - all it takes is a gust of wind to carry the spark a short distance to the dry and highly flammable vegetation, and depending on the remoteness of the location, it can be really challenging for local fire services to reach the area easily.”
Spring so far has seen high temperatures and very low rainfall, with the UK experiencing just over half the expected amount last month and it being the sunniest April since records began, the current climate creates ideal conditions for wildfires.
The Met Office has also predicted it could be another year of more frequent hot spells, with temperatures continuing to rise throughout all seasons.
Ben McCarthy, head of nature restoration at the National Trust, added: “With much of the countryside tinder dry at the moment, we’re asking everyone to take extra care when they’re out and about.
“We absolutely want people to get outdoors and enjoy nature, but we need their help in looking after it.
“Over the years, we’ve seen really destructive fires started by barbecues and campfires that have destroyed beautiful landscapes, harmed wildlife and put our fire services under more pressure.
“The scale of our sites means that it’s impossible for our rangers to be everywhere at once, so we need people’s help in behaving responsibly, and reporting any signs of a fire to the fire and rescue service.”
