Cardinham Woods issues a high wildfire risk warning

Planning a summer evening in the woods with a disposable barbecue or a camping stove tucked in the bag? At Cardinham Woods, the answer this year is a firm no. Weeks of hot, dry weather have left the ground very dry, and the team looking after the forest has put out a warning to everyone heading in. It comes down to how little it now takes to start a fire.

Why the fire risk is so high

The recent spell of hot, dry weather has left woodlands across the country at an increased risk of wildfire. Even a small spark can quickly become a serious fire, spreading through the undergrowth, damaging habitats and threatening the wildlife that lives there. That is the worry at Cardinham Woods this summer, where visitors are being asked to take extra care while they enjoy the forest.

What visitors are being asked to do

The requests are short and they matter. Forestry England is asking everyone who visits to do three things while the risk stays high.

• Fully extinguish and dispose of cigarettes responsibly.
• Never light fires, BBQs or camping stoves in the woodland.
• Take litter home and leave no trace.

None of it is complicated. It is the sort of thing most people already do, and this summer it carries a little more weight than usual.

If you see a fire

If you do spot a fire, the advice printed on the signs going up around the woods is the one to follow. Move to a safe location and call 999 immediately.

The warning holds while the dry spell does. And the reason behind it is the part worth carrying home. A fire here would not clear in a season. It can spread rapidly, and its effects can last for years, reaching well beyond the day it starts and into the forest and the species that call it home.

📷Credit: Cardinham Woods - Forestry England