UK's rare species under threat as devastating grass fires rage
Rare animal species in the United Kingdom are at risk of extinction due to severe grass fires. Ecologists are raising the alarm about the dire situation.
Key information
- Grass fires in the United Kingdom threaten rare species such as water voles and common cranes.
- As of 2025, 285 square kilometres of land have burned, an area larger than Birmingham.
- Conservationists are urging responsible behaviour and reporting suspicious activities.
The United Kingdom is struggling with severe grass fires that threaten rare animal species. Among those affected are common cranes and water voles, which are the fastest-declining mammals in the country. According to the BBC, the fires on Abergwesyn Common in Powys destroyed the last local breeding habitat for golden plovers, considered some of the most beautiful birds in the British uplands. This year, 285 square kilometres of land have already burned in the United Kingdom, an area larger than Birmingham.
In Wales, firefighters have battled nearly 1,400 fires, prompting the services to call for responsible behaviour and the reporting of suspicious activities to the police. In England, on Marsden Moor, thousands of newly planted trees were burned. In Northern Ireland, fires in the Mourne Mountains destroyed habitats of invertebrates and ground animals.
"We're extremely worried, this is looking like it's going to be the worst year for seeing our wildlife going up in flames," said Ben MacCarthy from the National Trust.
Endangered species and their future
Water voles, the fastest-declining mammals in the United Kingdom, are particularly at risk of extinction. Rob Parry from INCC emphasises that their last habitats in Wales are threatened by the fires, bringing them closer to extinction.
Natural Resources Wales highlights that fires are a significant problem, especially in southern Wales. Firefighters are educating children in schools about the effects of fires to prevent future threats. Mark Bowditch from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service notes that deliberate arson is a crime.
"We see the death of local wildlife, we see the destruction of their habitat. We accept that some fires can be accidental, but deliberate fire setting is a crime and that's the message we'd like to get out," said Mark Bowditch in an interview with the BBC.
