PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN

These images show the devastation caused by recent wildfires at two of the UK’s beauty spots amid the record-breaking summer of heatwaves and drought.

Headon Warren in the Isle of Wight has been devastated by a fire that was only extinguished on Monday, with Wembury Point in Devon also hit by fires last week.

The National Trust’s Director-General, Hilary McGrady, said the UK should prepare for more frequent and severe wildfires, as countries including France and Spain continue to respond to major blazes. She called on the government to strengthen its approach to tackling climate change and improving national resilience.

The warning comes after around 200 fires were recorded across the UK over the past fortnight, including a large wildfire in the Cairngorms, which continues to burn, and a major incident affecting National Trust land at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk.

Earlier this week, drought was declared across half of England, while July is on course to become the driest on record. The Trust said extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, reflecting risks long identified by climate scientists.

McGrady said: "We've all been watching in horror as our neighbours in Europe are battling the most extreme fires. Fires like these might once have seemed unthinkable in Europe and the UK – but that certainty is gone.

"So we need action and we need political will. We must adapt, urgently, to these conditions. That means building homes fit for the future, creating wetter and more resilient landscapes, taking steps to cool our towns and cities, and helping communities prepare for the weather we're going to experience. It means taking steps now to protect our health, our heritage and our way of life.”

Calling on the Prime Minister to do more to alleviate climate change, she added: "But while we must adapt, we mustn't accept these conditions as "normal" and become desensitised to the underlying issue while there is still time to change course. Every nation has to tackle the problem at source – and that means leaving fossil fuels in the ground.

"Andy Burnham and his government must not stall in their response. The UK has responded to enormous challenges over the last century, and with enough will and strong leadership, it can do so again."

The National Trust said its Nature = Future campaign had attracted support from thousands of people this year. The campaign calls for urgent action to restore nature and maintain environmental protections, arguing that healthy natural systems are essential for climate resilience and public wellbeing.

The charity is urging the new prime minister to appoint a Cabinet-level minister for climate resilience to co-ordinate action across government departments. It is also calling for climate action to remain central to future spending and energy policy, for nature to be treated as critical national infrastructure, and for planning decisions on housing, energy and infrastructure to prioritise long-term resilience.

Harry Bowell, the National Trust's Director of Land and Nature, said: "This year, on National Trust land alone, we have witnessed huge areas of landscapes burning in mid and south Wales, in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland and the Peak District in England. Firefighters are currently supporting our team tackling a blaze on Dunwich Heath and just last week firefighters tackled a blaze across rare habitats and farms on the Isle of Wight.

"Areas that burned last year are also struggling to recover due to ongoing challenging conditions with the lack of rain and heat across a significant area of heathland at Holt Heath in Purbeck, hampering restoration efforts.

"We know what can help. Wetter, boggier landscapes can dampen fires and withstand drought. Rewiggling rivers, restoring peatlands, creating wetlands – we've seen how these interventions can make a difference. In the grand scheme of things, these are economical solutions that provide a plethora of benefits. It is common sense that we work with nature, not against it."