Moorland rewetting efforts slow wildfire damage in Derbyshire
Iain Hoey
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Wildfire response supported by restoration projects in Peak District
According to the BBC, a recent wildfire in the Goyt Valley caused damage equivalent to around 325 football pitches.
The fire, which broke out on 30 April in the Peak District, affected upland moorland in Derbyshire.
Environmental organisation Moors for the Future Partnership said that existing restoration measures helped reduce the spread of the fire.
The organisation had installed a series of small dams over the past two years as part of a rewetting initiative to improve moorland resilience.
Conservation work officer Jim Randle said the presence of additional surface water may have limited the fire’s ability to burn deeply into the peat.
He said: “There are many, many areas where we have put in dams that were holding water that would not have otherwise been there.”
Fire damage restricted to valley zone
The BBC reported that the fire was largely contained within the Goyt Valley and did not reach open moorland between Buxton and Macclesfield.
The Moors for the Future Partnership said its work to block gullies and restore vegetation cover likely contributed to the reduced impact.
The partnership is led by the Peak District National Park Authority and is supported by multiple funders including the Environment Agency and the National Trust.
Randle added: “The fire may well have been worse and buried deeply into the peat in some areas [if it had not been for the dams].”
Recovery expected to take several years
Despite the containment of the fire, the environmental impact will be long-lasting.
Randle explained that the regeneration process would take years, even in areas where mitigation efforts were successful.
He said: “It is grief almost because you know how important this place is to people.”
“It is a very popular spot for lots of people.”
United Utilities, which owns reservoirs and surrounding land in the valley, also commented on the aftermath.
Catchment officer Ed Lawrance said: “It is just an incredibly sad situation.”
Fire service highlights prevention benefits
A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC that the fire service supports the moorland regeneration efforts.
The spokesperson said: “This vital work to restore the moors includes re-wetting which can help to reduce the risk and severity of wildfires.”
Lawrance added: “We have seen them before, these big moorland fires, and know how devastating they are for the wildlife and the habitat up here, for the people who visit, for the people who work and manage this area.”
“So it is always an awful experience when we get a big wildfire like this.”
Moorland rewetting efforts slow wildfire damage in Derbyshire: Summary
A wildfire broke out in the Goyt Valley, Derbyshire on 30 April.
The affected area was roughly the size of 325 football pitches.
The Moors for the Future Partnership had installed small water dams on the moorland.
These dams were part of a restoration project aimed at rewetting the landscape.
Jim Randle of Moors for the Future said the water helped reduce how deeply the fire burned into peat.
The fire remained contained within the Goyt Valley and did not spread to wider moorland.
The Peak District National Park Authority leads the partnership responsible for the restoration work.
United Utilities owns the land surrounding the reservoirs in the valley.
Ed Lawrance from United Utilities described the fire as “devastating”.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service stated the rewetting work may help lower wildfire risks.
Full recovery of the area is expected to take years.
