Moorland fires have a devastating effect on wildlife

A second national park has warned its moors and forests are at risk of fire after a prolonged dry weather spell left the ground tinder-dry.

Just two days after the Peak District National Park Authority warned visitors to be vigilant, the North York Moors national park issued a similar plea, saying fire-warning signs had been put up across the area.

A spokesperson for the North York Moors park said: “The warm weather is set to continue over the Easter weekend and this, coupled with a lack of rain and very dry ground vegetation such as heather and bracken, has prompted the decision by the national park authority to put the North York Moors on fire alert.”

Bernie McLinden, the authority’s head of park management, said: “Past episodes have shown that under these tinderbox conditions, moorland fires can spread extremely quickly causing significant damage to the landscape and its wildlife.

“Moorland fires at this time of year can be particularly devastating as birds such as lapwing and curlew are nesting on the ground. The majority of moorland fires can be prevented so we would urge people to take extra care when visiting the national park while the fire risk signs are in place.”

Park bosses said visitors should avoid lighting fires and barbecues and discarding cigarettes, matches or glass bottles including throwing cigarette ends out of car windows.

If people see a fire, they should report it quickly to the fire service by dialling 999 so that they can take action.

As the controlled heather burning period for gamekeepers has now ended, any fire spotted will be an accidental fire and should be reported, they said.