IT COULD take up to a decade before the heathland destroyed this week fully recovers.

Christchurch & East Dorset Council countryside officer Hannah Bosence, speaking to the Echo from smouldering Ferndown Common, said reptiles, a huge number of invertebrates and some small birds would have been killed.

“It is a sad day to be out here today,” she said. “This is an SSSI site - a Site of Special Scientific Interest - and the reason it has this designation is for the protection of its wildlife.

“Some estimates for the heathland to get back up to full capacity after a fire like this are around ten years, but some things will start to regrow quicker.

“Probably in about six to 12 months it will start to look a bit greener again, but that will likely be the faster growing species - the gorse and the pine.

“Unfortunately, it will take the heather a lot longer to grow back.

“We have already found remains of slow worms, insects and a small bird.”