A fire has burned through woods and heathland near Bolderwood, devastating some of most fragile habitats in the New Forest.
The blaze started when a van caught fire on the A31 on Sunday 9 August and spread to vegetation on both sides of the road.
Firefighters battled to contain the fire, staying at the site tackling flare-ups for more than a week.
The public were urged to stay away from the area.
Ancient oak and beech trees, rare heathland and even wetland were devastated by the fire that swept through more than 1 sq km (247 acres) of the national park, the BBC reported.
Car park and road closures
Forestry England closed the following car parks and surrounding cycle paths to allow emergency services access to the area. THESE HAVE NOW RE-OPENED.
- Bratley View
- Canadian Memorial
- Bolderwood
- Knightwood Oak
- James Hill
- Millyford Bridge
- Highland Water
- Barrow Moor
- Woosons
- The Old Reptiliary (formerly the Reptile Centre)
The closure of the A3 led to road congestion throughout the New Forest. It reopened on Saturday 22 August.
Further details can be found on the Forestry England website.
The New Forest has the most has the most extensive area of lowland heath remaining in Europe.
It’s home to many nationally and internationally rare species – including all six of the UK’s reptiles, plants, insects and birds such as Dartford warblers and nightjar.
Help prevent wildfires
Although this incident was caused by a vehicle fire, it has shown how the New Forest is particularly vulnerable to wildfire during hot, dry weather.
A few simple precautions can help to protect heathland, wildlife and livestock.
- not lighting fires or using barbecues when visiting the New Forest
- making sure cigarettes are completely extinguished and disposing of them properly
- never leaving any fire unattended
- taking all litter home with you, particularly glass which can magnify sunlight
If you see a fire, move to a safe place and call 999, giving the location as accurately as you can. Use what3words, which allows you to share an exact location. Don’t put yourself at risk by trying to tackle it yourself.
