AN arson attack has almost certainly wiped out one of Britain’s rarest birds on protected heathland. The blaze, which started at around 9.20pm on Sunday, destroyed 250sqm of growth at Bourne Valley Nature Reserve.

It started off Bloxworth Road, Wallisdown and 29 firefighters attended with five fire engines, three Land Rovers and a water carrier.

Jez Martin, nature conservation officer at Borough of Poole, which manages the reserve, said the blaze – coupled with others before it – probably meant Dartford Warblers would not be able to breed at the site for at least another ten years while the land recovered.

There are only around 3,000 pairs of Dartford Warblers in the UK, according to RSPB figures. Mr Martin said: “There’s not much good heather still on that part of Bourne Valley for them. If they haven’t been lost with this fire, another one would finish them off.”

He said that multiple seats of fire had been found and would also have affected lizards, worms, snakes and other species.

Mr Martin added: “Unfortunately the majority of heath fires in Dorset are deliberate. It’s worrying for the wildlife population and also for the nearby residents.”

The fire was put out shortly after 10.30pm, but crews had to return early yesterday morning to deal with hot spots along with investigators. Another area that was still smouldering also had to be dampened down.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed that the fires were deliberately set. Police were also at the scene and used the force helicopter to search the area.

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