Commenting on the wildfire, Dave Savage at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said:
“We are devastated to see the distressing impact of the wildfires at Win Hill in the Peak District. The safety of firefighters helping to control the blaze, and the people and wildlife near the site is the immediate priority.
“Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts’ Thornhill Carr Nature Reserve is in close proximity to the site of the fire. The fire has not reached the reserve but is being monitored by our team and we ask that visitors to stay away from the site.
“The cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed, but Derbyshire Fire and Rescue have reported that a camp stove was found near the seat of the fire. Regardless of the cause, the fire will have been exacerbated by climate change and increasingly dry conditions. Droughts have lowered the water table on wetland nature reserves, dried out ponds and streams, and are starting to dry out peat bogs in the area.
“Derbyshire Wildlife Trust wants to see increased effort from the government on climate adaptation and nature-based solutions to fight climate change, however we are extremely concerned after legal protection for beavers – due to be laid in parliament yesterday – were pulled at the eleventh hour.
“The decision is even more disappointing to hear on the day of the fire. It will have damaging impacts for nature, climate and communities, and demonstrates the low priority government is placing on nature-based solutions, like beavers. Beavers are very effective at reducing the impact of drought by acting as eco-engineers, keeping water in the landscape, which also reduces the risk of flooding.
“The wildfire and record breaking temperatures this week are a code red for humanity. They demonstrate that climate change is having an impact right here in Derbyshire, which will only increase as the global temperature increases. We need to take action now, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses.”