The RSPB have joined forces with ten Fire and Rescue Services across England to ask people to help protect RSPB nature reserves and the wider countryside from wildfires this summer.
(Photo above: Wildfire on Dartmoor, Devon by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service)
The appeal is being made to help prevent fires, keep people safe and protect the country’s valuable greenspaces, and the animals that live there, ahead of the summer months.
2023 was confirmed as the world’s hottest year on record according to the Met Office and 2024 could be another year of high temperatures, risking heatwaves and fires across the country.
Photo: Wildfire on Hazeley Heath, gorse bush alight by Andy Weeks, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service
Now we are reminding visitors that barbecues and campfires are not permitted on RSPB England nature reserves, but picnics are very welcome to be bought from RSPB cafes or from home. Smokers are being asked to take extra care when smoking and to extinguish cigarettes in a safe manner.
Visitors are also reminded to take home any litter when enjoying greenspaces, as fires can be sparked from unlikely items during the warm, dry weather. Food discarded outdoors can also cause issues for resident wildlife, we're asking people to please dispose of it at home.
England’s heathland, grassland, scrubland, reedbed, beach, and woodland landscapes provide vital homes for a mix of wildlife, which rely on these specific landscapes to survive and thrive. However, these places are at high risk of fires throughout the year, due to their dryness. This is heightened during the summer months when more people choose to cook and eat outdoors.
Photo above: Woodland - Ancient Oak, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire by Colin Wilkinson (rspb-images.com)
Photo above: Grassland - RSPB The Lodge Nature Reserve, Bedfordshire by Michael Harvey (rspb-images.com)
Birds which nest in these wildfire high-risk places are especially vulnerable, such as Dartford Warbler, Nightjars, Woodlark and Skylark, Golden Plover, Curlew, Ring Ouzel, Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe. As are the UK’s six native reptiles. Also at risk are endangered invertebrates such as the rare Shrill Carder Bee and Brown-banded Carder Bee found at RSPB Canvey Wick in Essex, and the rare Ladybird Spiders at RSPB Arne in Dorset. At RSPB Farnham Heath in Surrey endangered Field Cricket are at risk from wildfire, and only found on eight sites within the UK – the list of important species and their homes threatened by wildfires goes on and on.
Photo above: Nightjar roosting on a log by Verity Hill (rspb-images.com)
Photo above: Brown-banded Carder Bee on pink flower by (c) Поляков Александр
Taking care not to start wildfires has never been so important. Climate change means that in the UK, and around the world, extreme weather events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent, long-lasting, and intense. This extreme weather is increasing the scale, intensity, and frequency of wildfires all over the world.
Mike Shurmer, RSPB England’s Head of Species, said: “We are really grateful for the care and caution that most of our visitors take when exploring our 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 barbeques is not allowed at RSPB England 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. And a discarded cigarette-end 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 heathland vegetation. And depending on the remoteness of the location, it can be really challenging for our local fire services to reach the area easily.”
Photo above: Devastation to a greenspace due to a wildfire in Hampshire. Blackened earth, trees burnt, fire truck in distance by Hartley Wintey
James McNeil, Wildfire Lead for the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: “Wildfires can ravage the local wildlife, destroying ecosystems in a matter of hours that have taken years to build up. Most heath fires start with human intervention, whether that’s carelessness or a deliberate act, so we need everyone who enjoys our beautiful open spaces to work with us to help protect them.”
James explains: “Seemingly extinguished bonfires and barbeques often pose a continued risk of causing wildfires. Residual heat and embers can cause hidden smouldering fires underground, sometimes for a number of days, before spreading to surface vegetation. These unseen fires can be particularly challenging for firefighters to detect and extinguish and can easily spread unnoticed.”
Photo above: Fire Fighter putting out a fire using a hose at National Trust Studland, Dorset. By Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
The National Fire Chiefs Council recommend these steps to help prevent wildfires:
RSPB’s Mike added: “We want visitors to thoroughly enjoy our RSPB reserves this summer and eating outdoors is part of the fun. Visitors are welcome to purchase a takeaway picnic from our onsite cafés where available or bring their own pre-prepared food from home. There are plenty of comfy spots throughout our reserves, offering stunning views of the special landscapes and wildlife we protect, perfect for enjoying a picnic.
“We also want to thank our Fire and Rescue Services across England - without their tireless work and swift action we wouldn’t have these special nature reserves and greenspaces to enjoy safely.”
Photo above: Family enjoying a picnic on a picnic bench at an RSPB nature reserve by Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com)
To find you nearest RSPB nature reserve, visit: www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves
For more information on how to prevent wildfire outbreaks, visit: bit.ly/StopWildfires24