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Wildlife perishes in killer heath fire
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| AFTERMATH: Tuesday's heath fire on Studland leaves devastation behind Picture: Sally Adams, with help from Bournemouth Helicopters |
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HUNDREDS of birds, reptiles and insects perished in Tuesday's fire on Studland Heath - and the area devastated by the blaze could take decades to recover.
About four hectares of land was destroyed and wildlife experts said around 500 reptiles and an as yet unknown number of birds and insects - some of which are endangered species - would have perished.
It is thought a discarded cigarette end started the fire. Dorset Fire and Rescue says the cause is not suspicious.
David Hodd said: "This time of year birds are nesting, and creatures are vulnerable. It's going to take 20 years for vegetation to return to normal. We're fortunate we've got 700 hectares of heath and it will have the chance to recover."
The heath is home to all six of Britain's native reptiles, like the smooth snake and sand lizard, as well as birds like the Dartford warbler and insects such as the Purbeck mason wasp.
Also on site yesterday was Nick Moulton, reptile conservation officer at the Herpetological Conservation Trust, relocating animals to safe areas. He said: "It's spring and all the animals are getting their stuff together, breeding and building their nests."
He added it would take at least 20 years for animals like the sand lizard to use the land again, possibly a further 20 to return population levels to normal.
More than 120 firefighters were on the scene at the height of the blaze, which was brought under control by around 3pm on Tuesday.
Roads were closed and the Sandbanks Ferry was suspended for the afternoon.
7:00pm Wednesday 21st May 2008
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CommentPosted by: JamesR, Poole on 9:15am Thu 22 May 08
I would love it if the Echo website actually put up some decent pictures instead of filling the screen with adverts. It would make stories like these a lot better.
I would love it if the Echo website actually put up some decent pictures instead of filling the screen with adverts. It would make stories like these a lot better.
Posted by: Tig, Poole on 1:22pm Thu 22 May 08
[quote][bold]JamesR[/bold] wrote:
I would love it if the Echo website actually put up some decent pictures instead of filling the screen with adverts. It would make stories like these a lot better.[/quote] Hear, hear.
JamesR wrote:
I would love it if the Echo website actually put up some decent pictures instead of filling the screen with adverts. It would make stories like these a lot better.
Hear, hear.
Posted by: E.L.M., Dorset on 4:50pm Thu 22 May 08
Bloody smokers again,I have seen so many lit cigarettes ends thrown out of cars by idiot smokers,for gods sake use what little intelligence you have and PUT IT OUT IN YOUR ASHTRAY.Not rocket science is it?
Bloody smokers again,I have seen so many lit cigarettes ends thrown out of cars by idiot smokers,for gods sake use what little intelligence you have and PUT IT OUT IN YOUR ASHTRAY.Not rocket science is it?
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