The National Trust has launched an emergency public appeal to restore a heathland decimated by a wildfire.
On Wednesday last week, a major fire broke out on the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve before spreading to Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, which the National Trust looks after.
As of Friday, the National Trust said the fire – one of around 200 to hit the UK in the past fortnight – had destroyed the heathland, spanning an area the size of 220 football pitches.
The charity said “the major incident” has wiped out some of the UK’s rarest habitats, with other of its sites including the Isle of Wight and the Mourne also affected by fire in recent weeks.
It is calling on people to help restore Dunwich Heath “by giving what they can to an emergency appeal” launched on Friday.
A spokesperson for the charity told Civil Society it does not have a fundraising target yet as it has not been able to assess the site fully.
“But we know from previous fires the cost of the damage will be significant,” they said.
‘We can’t do it alone’
Hilary McGrady, the National Trust’s director-general, said: “We’re looking at total devastation of a beloved and important landscape.
“We’ve lost precious habitats, wildlife, trees, and a place where people have made memories over generations. It’s heartbreaking.
“But together we can and will restore Dunwich, and crucially, make it more resilient and better adapted for the climate we’re facing now, and the climate we’ll be facing in future.
“We’re working hard to tackle climate change and prepare for more of it, but there’s more hard work to be done.
“We can’t do it alone. We’re a charity that relies on public support in so many ways. If you can donate, however much, please don’t hesitate. Your money will go directly to the restoration of Dunwich, to regrow habitats and homes for wildlife, build more resilience into the landscape, and return this iconic place to the nation.”
