Latest news with #natureReserve
BBC News
16-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Intentional' fire at Maldon nature reserve did £100k of damage
The chair of a nature reserve said damage caused by a spate of deliberate fires could cost £100, crews who fought the latest blaze at the Chelmer Blackwater Reserve in Maldon, Essex, believe it was started intentionally - and suspect two other fires nearby were also Ellum, chair of the Chelmer Blackwater Community Interest Company (CIC), which manages the reserve, said it was "absolutely devastating"."The overall cost of putting in the [reserve's] walkways and the bridge has been in the region of £100,000, it will cost most of that to restore it." Mr Ellum said the CIC would have to consider how to go about restoration "because of the risk of this happening again".He added: "The wildlife has obviously been badly affected by it, the field over there where the main fire started had a very large number of voles in it, we don't know how they have fared. "The reedbed has been partly damaged over here, which was an important breeding ground for birds."He said the reserve has more than 200 shareholders who would also feel distraught. The first fire was on 3 July. There was another on Saturday, and then a third on Eaglestone, a group manager with the Essex Fire Service, said all three were "believed to have been started deliberately".He added: "It puts lives at risk, causes significant damage to local wildlife and habitats, and ties up emergency resources that may be needed elsewhere. "These types of incidents are not only reckless, they are criminal."The CIC's secretary, Jonathan Wood, said he witnessed Monday's fire."We could see it just traveling and despite the efforts of the fire brigade - who have been marvellous in this - you could see the wind taking the fire and once it caught the trees that was it," he said the thought it was arson was "a very uncomfortable feeling"."You just wonder why people are so reckless," he added Retired teacher Alison Brown said she was "absolutely gutted"."We see the fens, the lovely fens, lots of greenery and the little pontoons and the bridges that you could walk across - and it's all gone."Kirsty, 45, also a teacher, said she often took her dog for walks around the reserve."There's lots of black bits in our garden."It's just beautiful area and it's such a shame, really sad, but they [the firefighters] did really, really well to keep it contained in that area."Louise, who was also walking by, said: "The smell is horrible isn't it?"We're even more horrified that there's someone on the loose that's going to do that."People spent so much time and effort on this, it's a charity so everyone's disgusted."The Essex Fire Service has urged people to contact the police if they see someone acting suspiciously in rural or woodland can also be given anonymously by visiting or calling 0800 169 5558. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Needingworth Quarry's wetland project could be delayed until 2038
A project to create one of the UK's biggest wetland habitats at a quarry site could take eight years longer than Aggregates, which operates Needingworth Quarry in Cambridgeshire, has asked for more time to excavate sand and gravel from the current planning permission for the quarry requires the site to be turned into a wetland habitat by 2030, which the company has asked to be extended to proposals submitted to Cambridgeshire County Council, the company said "temporary market restrictions" had led to delays. Brice Aggregates, which took over the quarry in May 2024, is gradually handing the restored wetland over to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).The works to expand RSPB Ouse Fen nature reserve north of Cambridge have been going since 2001 and seen the area transform into a habitat for species such as otters, bitterns, marsh harriers and bearded Aggregates said it needed an additional six years to excavate the remaining sand and gravel, with a "sufficient period" also needed to restore the said there were a "host of legitimate reasons" as to why the project now needed more time after nearly 25 years."Notable, though not exclusively, during the austerity years of the late 2000s and Covid periods."The proposed extension to 2038 will allow for the necessary completion of all sand and gravel recovery from within the permitted site and facilitate the carrying out of the full site restoration."The county council will now consider the application and make a decision on whether the extension can be granted. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fire crews put out heath fire started 'deliberately'
Firefighters have put out a wildfire at a nature reserve which is believed to have been started deliberately. The fire near Blackhill Road, on Holton Heath near Poole, broke out shortly before 18:00 BST on Thursday and has destroyed about 1.8 hectares (about 4.5 acres) of heath and scrubland. At its height 40 firefighters were on scene and a total of 18 different appliances, two Unimog trucks and 10 support vehicles were used to tackle the blaze found to be deep within the peat on the heath. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said the fire was now out and crews had left the scene. The service said a reinspection was due later on Saturday. DWFRS said crews found fires in multiple places on areas of the heath. The fire service said: "The cause is believed to be deliberate, and we are working closely with our colleagues at Dorset Police." An amber warning of a rising risk of wildfires is in place. The alert covers Dorset and Wiltshire. One of Dorset's national nature reserves, the area of heath is owned by Natural England and spans 117 hectares (289 acres) of woodland and lowland heath. The reserve's compact bushes provide nest sites for Dartford warblers and stonechats - its areas of bare sands are home to burrowing bees and wasps, and egg-laying sand lizards. On Tuesday evening a wildfire took hold of an area of Turbary Heath in Bournemouth. Fire investigators later said the nature reserve fire was being treated as arson and police were investigating. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Heath fire started 'deliberately' - fire service Nature reserve wildfire treated as arson New £500k vehicle to tackle heath fires Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fire crews put out fire started 'deliberately' on Holton Heath
Firefighters have put out a wildfire at a nature reserve which is believed to have been started fire near Blackhill Road, on Holton Heath near Poole, broke out shortly before 18:00 BST on Thursday and has destroyed about 1.8 hectares (about 4.5 acres) of heath and its height 40 firefighters were on scene and a total of 18 different appliances, two Unimog trucks and 10 support vehicles were used to tackle the blaze found to be deep within the peat on the & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said the fire was now out and crews had left the scene. The service said a reinspection was due later on Saturday. DWFRS said crews found fires in multiple places on areas of the fire service said: "The cause is believed to be deliberate, and we are working closely with our colleagues at Dorset Police."An amber warning of a rising risk of wildfires is in place. The alert covers Dorset and of Dorset's national nature reserves, the area of heath is owned by Natural England and spans 117 hectares (289 acres) of woodland and lowland reserve's compact bushes provide nest sites for Dartford warblers and stonechats - its areas of bare sands are home to burrowing bees and wasps, and egg-laying sand lizards. On Tuesday evening a wildfire took hold of an area of Turbary Heath in investigators later said the nature reserve fire was being treated as arson and police were investigating. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters tackle heath blaze overnight
Firefighters have spent the night tackling a wildfire at a nature reserve. The fire near Blackhill Road, Holton Heath near Poole broke out on Thursday evening with crews from nine stations along with two Unimog vehicles from Wareham sent. Crews have worked through the night to get the fire under control with firefighters from Poole, Springbourne, Bere Regis and Wimborne sent to take over shortly after 06:00 BST. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews expected to be at the heath through Friday with those living nearby urged to keep windows and doors closed as it is causing a considerable amount of smoke. St Gabriel's Pre-school on nearby Keysworth Road said children would not be playing outside as the smoke from the heath fire was blowing towards the school. It said it would be keeping windows and doors closed as advised. Posting a message to parents on social media shortly before 07:30, the school said the temperature in the rooms was "already at 22C "It's going to be will leave the decision with you if you want to send your children in. We of course will allow early collection if you want them to do part day. "We do hope in the next couple of hours things change and we will be able to play out or have the doors open." On Tuesday evening a wildfire took hold of an area of Turbary Heath in Bournemouth. The fire at the nature reserve is being treated as arson and police are investigating. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Nature reserve wildfire treated as arson New £500k vehicle to tackle heath fires Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority
