THE shock and horror of the destruction wrought by the terrible fire that tore through Upton Heath, has been captured by a local artist.

Judith Opsblum, who lives in Corfe Mullen, has created a stark image of the devastated nature reserve, following June’s largest Dorset heath fire since 1976.

It destroyed 140 acres of mature heath, on a Dorset Wildlife Trust site rich in wildlife including all six British reptiles, 19 species of dragonfly and damselfly, rare butterflies, insects and plants and breeding birds such as the Dartford warbler, nightjar and hobby.

Judith used charcoal from the burnt remains of heathland plants and has donated her painting to the trust’s Upton Heath appeal. It will be auctioned to raise funds to help restore the land to its former glory.

Like many residents she visited the site shortly after the blaze with her children and the family was distressed by the blackened landscape of their regular dog-walking route.

They were so upset that she resolved to do something to help, and created After the Fire from the ashes.

“I just wanted to help in any way I could,” she said. “It seemed fitting to use a piece of charcoal from the fire to create a picture of the devastation, to try to make something good out of something so bad.”

Warden Andy Fale said: “People have been very upset by the effects of the fire and their strong support for our work at this time has been fantastic.

“Judith’s extraordinary piece of art is a great expression of the impact it has had and now it will help us to restore the heath and the diverse wildlife that relies on it.”

After the Fire is being auctioned on eBay from Saturday July 23 for 10 days on myworld.ebay.co.uk/dorsetwildlifetrust More about the appeal can be found at http://dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/uptonheathappeal