Forestry England is leading a long-term recovery project across rare heathland and ancient woodland in the New Forest following a major wildfire.
Fire Costs and Forest Damage
A burning van sparked the fire on August 9. The blaze destroyed more than 1 sq km (247 acres) of the New Forest. The flames damaged rare heathland. They also harmed ancient beech and oak trees that have stood for centuries. The fire burned through a surface layer of peat in boggy areas, reducing their capacity to store carbon.
The incident forced the closure of the A31—a route between Hampshire and Dorset—for nearly two weeks. It carried an estimated cost of £600,000 for the fire service.
Dave Morris, open habitats manager at Forestry England, recalled the severity of the aftermath.
The scene immediately after the fire had gone through this part of the forest is something I will never forget.
Dave Morris, open habitats manager at Forestry England
Mr Morris added:
Large areas were reduced to piles of charcoal, burnt soils and torched trees. At that time, it was difficult to imagine it would ever fully return to a place where nature could thrive.
Dave Morris, open habitats manager at Forestry England
Restoration Teams Spread Seed
Specialist teams harvested nearby heather rich with seed. They spread it across the worst-hit ground to form a protective mat to stabilize the soil through the winter and encourage spring growth. Forestry England used this exact technique after a previous wildfire in the New Forest in 1989.
Undeterred, our specialist staff immediately got to work to see how we could help the area recover.
Dave Morris, open habitats manager at Forestry England
Regarding the site from decades prior, the agency noted that almost 40 years later, this area is now thriving and has been fully restored.
Work crews are surveying exposed ancient beech and oak trees. They want to monitor root systems vulnerable to damage and infection, and they are planning health assessments based on leaf and growth production in the spring.
Wetlands Show Natural Recovery
Boggy zones sustained less damage because the wetter terrain slowed the fire’s spread. These wetland pockets are already displaying natural recovery, with molinia grasses, plants, and wildlife returning. Over the past 15 years, Forestry England has worked to restore wetlands across the forest. This work aims to improve water retention during droughts, and the agency plans to expand the initiative to protect against future extreme weather and wildfires.
The fire has reminded us that nature is remarkably resilient and in the boggy parts of the fire area we can already see plants and wildlife returning.
Dave Morris, open habitats manager at Forestry England
Mr Morris noted that with the right help at the right time, we can give it the helping hand it needs.
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