Emergency work after Fylingdales Moor wildfire

The North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) stepped in to protect the John Cross Rigg prehistoric earthwork after last year’s wildfire left it dangerously exposed to erosion.

The blaze stripped away dense heather and root systems, exposing the peat and heritage features beneath.

Miles Johnson, head of historic environment for the NYMNPA, said: “For an archaeologist, it is remarkable to see the historic landscape of Fylingdales Moor revealed with such clarity, but that excitement is tempered by deep concern.

Coir Matting installed at John Cross Rigg (Image: NYMNPA)

“The very exposure that allows us to understand these features more fully is now putting them at risk.”

Without the vegetation that once held the ground together, heavy rain in the weeks following the fire caused significant soil wash-off.

This left areas of the earthwork unstable and at risk of further deterioration.

To stabilise the monument and prevent further loss, the authority has installed coir (coconut fibre) matting over the most damaged sections.

Mr Johnson said: “We are working closely with Historic England to deliver emergency solutions to stabilise the most vulnerable areas while the moorland begins its long recovery.

“Installing coir matting is an immediate measure to protect the most seriously damaged sections and prevent further irreversible loss.

A fire damaged Cross Ridge Dike (Image: NYMNPA)

“The wider environmental impacts are equally concerning.

“Without vegetation to anchor soils, heavy rain is washing away peat, degrading water quality and increasing flood risk downstream.

“Our work is about protecting archaeology, habitats and the wider landscape together.”

The biodegradable matting slows surface water runoff, helps stabilise the slopes, and gives vegetation a chance to re-establish.

The NYMNPA has been monitoring the wider moor for changes and is working with partners to support both immediate and long-term recovery.

Funding for the emergency work came from Historic England, the Environment Agency, and the North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

A draft three-year restoration plan is now in place to support the next phase of recovery.

This plan includes collaboration with the Yorkshire Peat Partnership to repair and restore peatland areas.

Key priorities will be reintroducing peat-forming species such as sphagnum moss and cotton grass, which are crucial for water retention, peat stabilisation, and the recovery of the wet heath ecosystem.

Other progress includes the installation of fencing to support the safe and controlled return of livestock grazing.

This is being supported through the DEFRA Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme, which offers practical help for landowners, farmers, and graziers affected by the wildfire.

While the fire has made previously hidden archaeological features visible, the loss of vegetation has left them and the landscape exposed to the elements and at risk of long-term degradation.

Further updates on the restoration programme will be provided as work continues.