The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has launched an emergency appeal for funding to aid the recovery of a 25-hectare area of its heathland in Suffolk that was “badly affected” by wildfire.

The wildfire last month amid this summer’s heatwaves impacted the land at RSPB Minsmere, with the charity saying it needs the help of its supporters to repair the damage caused by the fire.

“This is the biggest blaze we've seen at Minsmere in living memory, which has been hugely consequential for the local wildlife,” said the charity’s Suffolk area manager Adam Rowlands in launching the appeal.

Birds including Dartford Warblers, Woodlarks and Nightjars that escaped the blaze returned later “to find their habitat destroyed”, said the RSPB.

The charity’s chief executive said the wildfires across the UK is a “wake up call” for the need for “climate resilience”.

“The scale and frequency of these incidents should serve as a warning,” she said.

“The UK's wildfire challenge is growing, driven by a combination of climate change, prolonged dry periods, rising temperatures and human ignition sources. The question now is not whether we face a heightened wildfire risk, but how we adapt to it.”

She added that climate resilience should e a “national mission” that “can no longer be treated as a secondary consideration. It should be embedded across land management, infrastructure planning and environmental policy”.

National Trust appeal

Nearby heathland owned by the National Trust was also damaged by the blaze.

A fundraising appeal launched by the National Trust exceeded its initial £500,000 target this week.

Donations beyond its initial target will help support the charity’s response to wildfires at its other sites, including in the Peak District, Isle of Wight and the Mourne Mountains.

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