Experts have warned that wildlife habitats damaged by UK wildfires may take up to 25 years to recover. The warning highlights the long-term ecological consequences of increasingly severe fires, which can destroy vegetation, disrupt food supplies and displace animals.

Recovery depends on the habitat affected and the intensity of the fire, with peatlands, heathland and woodland particularly vulnerable to lasting damage. The estimated 25-year timescale underlines that the effects can continue long after flames are extinguished, adding to concerns about wildfire risks during hot, dry conditions.