The blaze, which originated from a burning van on 9 August, destroyed surface peat layers and prompted an emergency response costing £600,000 alongside a two-week closure of the A31. In response, workers are harvesting seed-bearing heather from adjacent plots to lay as protective mats over the subterranean-damaged root systems. Crews are also focusing immediate preservation measures on vulnerable ancient beech and oak trees. While boggy sections experienced minimal impact and already exhibit signs of returning wildlife, overall landscape rehabilitation remains a long-term endeavor.
Key points
Underground fire spread consumed critical seed banks and root systems, necessitating acti…: Underground fire spread consumed critical seed banks and root systems, necessitating active reseeding before winter.
Damaged ancient oak and beech trees require urgent intervention to stabilize their expose…: Damaged ancient oak and beech trees require urgent intervention to stabilize their exposed root networks.
Naturally boggy areas suffered the least severe damage and are already witnessing the ret…: Naturally boggy areas suffered the least severe damage and are already witnessing the return of local wildlife.
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- Published
Restoration work has begun at the site of a devastating wildfire in a national park.
More than 1 sq km (247 acres) of the New Forest was destroyed after a fire spread from a blazing van on 9 August.
The fire caused damage to rare heathland and an ancient woodland, as well as burning through a surface layer of peat in some of the boggy areas, reducing their ability to store carbon.
Forestry England said it had begun a long-term project to help nature return to the affected area, with specialist teams starting work to protect the most vulnerable areas ahead of winter and helping to reseed areas of heather.
The agency, which is responsible for managing publicly owned forests in England, said the blaze spread across the heathland, removing all the plants on the surface before travelling underground to destroy layers of roots and seed banks.
At its height, the fire closed the A31 - a major tourist and commuter route between Hampshire and Dorset - for nearly two weeks.
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