New Forest wildfire restoration work begins

Restoration work is under way after a wildfire destroyed more than 1 sq km of the New Forest, damaging rare heathland, ancient woodland and peat bogs. Forestry England is working to protect vulnerable areas and help plants return, while early signs of recovery have appeared in the boggy parts of the site.

The fire began in a van on 9 August and spread underground, destroying roots and seed banks as well as surface plants. It closed the A31 for nearly two weeks and is estimated to have cost the fire service £600,000. Teams have spread seed-bearing heather from nearby areas as a protective layer, drawing on a method used after a 1989 wildfire; full recovery is expected to take many decades.