Hilary McGrady launched a National Trust emergency fundraising appeal on Friday after a wildfire burned about 150 hectares on Dunwich Heath and the Minsmere nature reserve near Sizewell nuclear power station. The fire service said the situation was stabilising, but it remained a major incident that was dynamic and potentially changeable.
More than 100 firefighters had been battling the blaze since Wednesday evening. Russell Clement said it had torn through the entire Dunwich Heath National Trust reserve and left it unrecognisable.
Dunwich Heath and Minsmere
The fire burned approximately 150 hectares of vegetation and forest on protected sites that include Dunwich Heath and the Minsmere nature reserve. Adam Rowlands, area manager for the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve, said he saw nightjars flying away from a 20ft fireball.
Rowlands said it would probably take decades for the vegetation to be re-established in the way it was before the fire. He also said some birds that survived the blaze were likely to perish if they could not find suitable habitat.
Hilary McGrady appeal
McGrady said: "We are 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." She added: "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."
The appeal now turns the fire response into a restoration effort. Dunwich Heath is a rare lowland heath visited by 100,000 people each year, and the immediate task is to keep tackling the blaze while preparing for a recovery that Rowlands says could take decades.
Friday afternoon
Fire crews used a helicopter capable of dropping 1,000 litres of seawater on each pass, and six London fire brigade appliances were included in the response. By Friday afternoon, the fire service said the incident was stabilising, even as it warned the situation remained dynamic and potentially changeable.
What caused the wildfire on Dunwich Heath?
