Red Alert! - Help protect Ashdown Forest from Wildfire

With temperatures forecast to reach mid to high 30’s or even 40’C over the next week, visitors to Ashdown Forest are being asked to be extra careful and vigilant to help prevent any devastating wildfire outbreaks.

The warning comes after the Met office issued an unprecedented red extreme heat warnings for parts of England – meaning there is a danger to life –with the remaining parts of the British Isles under an Amber Alert.  Due to these hot dry conditions, the Met Office’s Fire Severity Index is rated at Very High across the South East.

The Forest has experienced serious wildfires in the past – the last major incidents in 2019 when firefighters fought a 400-metre-wide blaze that destroyed valuable and rare habitat. And a second fire across 200 metres of gorse and undergrowth.

Ash Walmsley, Ashdown Forest’s Countryside Manager said:

“The vast majority of our visitors are responsible and mindful of the risks to the Forest and its wildlife during extremes of hot weather, but sadly it can only take a small discarded cigarette to spark a wildfire that can seriously damage precious habitats. We would like to remind everyone it is against the bylaws to have BBQs and campfires on the Forest ”.

 East Sussex Fire and Rescue has issued a list of tips to help prevent wildfire occurring across the County:

• Open fires shouldn't be lit in the countryside.
• Sunlight shining through glass can start large fires - take glass. bottles/jars home or put them in a waste or recycling bin.
• Keep young children and ball games away from barbecues and camp fires.
• Extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly - this means making sure they are completely out.
• Only use barbecues or camp fires in suitable and safe areas and never leave them unattended.
• Ensure that your barbecue is fully extinguished and cold before disposing of the contents.
• Only picnic in designated areas.
• Obey safety signs.
•  Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows - they can ruin whole fields of crops, forest or areas of natural beauty.

Ash Walmsley added:

“We want to keep everyone and everything safe– so if you do come across a fire on the Forest, please contact 999 immediately and follow ESFRS advice – do not attempt to tackle the fire – but give a map reference if possible and retreat to a safe area near a road or car park”.

ENDS

Ashdown Forest Fact file

It is one of the largest public access spaces in the South East

Located in the heart of the High Weald AONB

Granted national and international protection status due to the wildlife:

• SSSI – Site of special scientific interest
• SPA – European special protection area
• SAC – European Special area of conservation
• Natura 2000 site

Area of approximately 10 square miles:

• 6500 acres
• 2500 hectares

60% or 2/3 of the land is heathland – meaning that Ashdown Forest has 2.5% of the UK’s total remaining lowland heathland which is extremely rare. It also boasts one of the largest blocks of single, continuous heath and valley bog in the UK.