Recent reports indicate an alarming increase in grass fires across the UK, contributing to a significant threat to the country’s rarest wildlife. Conservationists warn that these fires are “torching” vulnerable species, pushing them closer to extinction. Among the most affected are endangered birds such as hen harriers and water voles, the latter now deemed the UK’s fastest declining mammal. The National Trust highlighted the devastation at Abergwesyn Common in Powys, where ongoing wildfires have ravaged the last breeding habitat for golden plovers—considered one of the most stunning birds in British uplands.
This year alone has seen approximately 110 square miles (about 284 square kilometers) of land scorched by wildfires across the UK, an area exceeding the size of Birmingham. The year-to-date figures depict a troubling trend, with Wales witnessing firefighters battling around 1,400 wildfires. The spike in wildfire incidents has prompted fire services to call upon the public to behave responsibly and report any suspicious activities.
Experts suggest that 2025 is on track to become the worst year on record for human-induced wildfires in the UK. Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation at the National Trust, expressed deep concerns, emphasizing that this spike in wildfires could lead to unprecedented levels of wildlife destruction. A particularly dry spell and unusually high March temperatures have intensified the wildfires, alongside a low incidence of fires in 2024 that left more vegetation to fuel potential flames.
Notably, Coed Cadw of the Woodland Trust reported significant impacts on irreplaceable temperate Atlantic rainforest at Allt Boeth near Aberystwyth, alongside damage to endangered plant species such as bluebells. Infamously known as the Celtic rainforest, this habitat is home to scarce flora and fungi, and is deemed more at risk than tropical rainforests. Additional reports revealed that thousands of newly planted trees at Marsden Moor in West Yorkshire fell victim to the flames. The Morne Mountains in Northern Ireland also experienced devastation, with ground-dwelling animals, including reptiles, being “simply torched alive.”
The cascading effects of these events on local ecosystems cannot be overstated. McCarthy explained that the loss of invertebrates due to wildfires disrupts the food chain, impacting bird populations dependent on these small animals for sustenance. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of government funding aimed at aiding farmers and land managers in restoring peat bogs in upland areas, which can both mitigate fires and capture carbon emissions.
The dire consequences of the wildfires extend beyond wildlife loss, significantly affecting water quality. Post-fire rainfall can wash off phosphates from newly exposed soil into local streams and rivers, leading to increased pollution. In south Wales alone, wildfires have risen dramatically with reports indicating a staggering 1,200% increase compared to the same period last year. During the first four months of 2025, there were 445 wildfires, a stark increase from the 34 reported in the same timeframe in 2024.
Conservationists are emphasizing the urgency for greater oversight of controlled burns conducted by farmers and improved monitoring of wildfire repercussions on biodiversity. Estimates indicate that most wildfires are triggered intentionally, although some arise from accidental causes such as out-of-control BBQs or poorly managed controlled fires.
To combat this trend, initiatives such as educational programs are being introduced in schools across south Wales. Firefighters collaborate with police to raise awareness among young children regarding the consequences of wildfires on local wildlife.
Overall, the rise in frequency and severity of grass fires in the UK poses a grave threat to its biodiversity. Conservation organizations echo the call for stricter regulations and increased public education to protect the fragile ecosystems and the unique wildlife they harbor, amplifying the urgent need for collective action to mitigate further environmental devastation.