A major wildfire at Dunwich Heath and the nearby Minsmere nature reserve in Suffolk has devastated protected coastal heathland close to the Sizewell nuclear power station. More than 100 firefighters have been tackling the blaze since Wednesday evening, and although conditions were stabilising on Friday, emergency services said the incident remained changeable. The fire matters because it has destroyed habitats supporting rare wildlife and highlights the heightened wildfire risk during drought and extreme heat.

About 150 hectares (370 acres), or roughly 210 football pitches, of vegetation and woodland have burned, with the National Trust saying its Dunwich Heath reserve is now unrecognisable. Firefighters used a helicopter dropping up to 1,000 litres of seawater per pass and received support from six London Fire Brigade appliances. Restoration may take decades, while the RSPB warned surviving birds could struggle without suitable feeding and breeding habitat; an emergency fundraising appeal has been launched.