Some of the UK’s most threatened species are being driven closer to extinction as widespread grass fires continue to ravage natural habitats, conservationists have warned.
Endangered birds such as the hen harrier and the water vole—the fastest-declining mammal in the UK—are among the wildlife suffering the worst impacts.
According to the National Trust, ongoing wildfires on Abergwesyn common in Powys have likely wiped out “the last remaining” breeding grounds for golden plovers in the area. These upland birds are prized for their beauty and rarity.
Wildfires have already consumed 110 square miles (284 square kilometers) of countryside across the UK this year—an area larger than the city of Birmingham.
“This is shaping up to be the worst year we’ve ever seen for wildfires caused by human activity,” said Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation at the National Trust. “We’re incredibly concerned about the toll this is taking on our wildlife—entire ecosystems are literally going up in flames.”
An unusually dry spell combined with high temperatures in March has worsened fire risks, while lower fire activity in 2024 left more vegetation to fuel the current blazes.
In Wales, the Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw) reported serious damage to a rare patch of temperate Atlantic rainforest at Allt Boeth near Aberystwyth, including harm to protected bluebell populations. Also called Celtic rainforest, this unique habitat supports rare plants, fungi, and lichens, and is considered even more threatened than its tropical counterpart.
In England, thousands of newly planted trees were destroyed by fires at Marsden Moor in West Yorkshire. Meanwhile, on Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains, fires have killed off entire populations of invertebrates and ground-dwelling animals like reptiles.
“These fires break the entire food chain,” said McCarthy. “If we lose the invertebrates, we lose the birds that depend on them.”
He stressed the urgent need for government investment in peatland restoration, which could reduce fire risk, lock in carbon, and create crucial wildlife habitat.
The Wildlife Trusts and the Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC) echoed concerns for the water vole, already under serious threat due to habitat destruction and predation by invasive American mink.
Though burrowing species like water voles and shrews may survive fast-moving fires, the destruction of their homes and food sources can be devastating.
“The water vole is disappearing faster than any other mammal we’ve ever recorded,” said Rob Parry of the INCC. “The few remaining populations in Wales live in upland areas, so when those places burn, it’s a massive blow. Every fire pushes them closer to extinction.”
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) described wildfires as a “major problem,” especially in the south, where more than half of the nation’s fires occurred last year, according to Welsh government data.
“In just the past three days, we’ve seen over 75 fires in the South Wales Valleys,” said Becky Davies, a senior officer at NRW. “Our valleys are lined with dry grass, bracken, and coal spoil—all of it highly flammable.”
Wildfires also cause longer-term environmental damage. When rain falls on scorched land, exposed soil and nutrients like phosphates can wash into rivers and streams, reducing water quality and harming aquatic ecosystems.
