New Forest wildfire restoration work begins

Forestry England began restoration work at the New Forest wildfire site on Nov. 6, starting a long-term effort to help damaged heathland and woodland recover.

The Aug. 9 wildfire affected more than 100 hectares of internationally important heathland, according to the New Forest National Park Authority. Forestry England said more than 80 hectares were destroyed, including rare heathland and ancient woodland.

The fire also burned surface peat in some boggy areas. That damage reduced the affected ground’s capacity to store carbon.

To stabilize the most severely damaged sections, Forestry England has collected heather carrying seeds from other parts of the forest and spread it over the burned ground. The layer is intended to reduce erosion during winter and give new vegetation a better chance to establish.

Teams are also surveying ancient beech and oak trees whose roots were exposed by the blaze. The boggiest sections suffered less damage and are already showing recovery, with molinia grasses and other plants returning.

Forestry England expects complete recovery across the burned area to take many decades. The restoration plan follows earlier work after a 1989 New Forest wildfire, when the same seed-bearing heather approach was used.