Praise for North York Moors restoration work on ministerial visit

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Nature Minister Mary Creagh has visited the site of last year’s blaze on Langdale Moor, near RAF Fylingdales, which at its height covered 10 sq miles (25 sq km).

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The North York Moors National Park has been leading a recovery project, backed with more than £3 million in funding from the Government, which will be used to restore damaged peatland habitats, repair 17 kilometres of firebreaks that were dug to stop the spread, reinstate the public rights of way that were closed off, and build resilience in the moors to future wildfires.

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The restoration work is also supported by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and other partner organisations.

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On a visit last week, Ms Creagh said: “The Fylingdales wildfire was an unprecedented event that caused serious and lasting damage to one of England’s most treasured landscapes.

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“This funding will help bring the moorland back to life – restoring the deep peat that stores carbon, supports rare wildlife, and protects communities downstream.”

Langdale Moor. Courtesy North Yorkshire Fire And Rescue Service. Copy

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However, the Government has been criticised by MPs and councillors for not providing compensation to local businesses, farmers and landowners impacted by the largest wildfire in North Yorkshire’s history.

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Speaking at a recent meeting, Cllr Carl Les, the leader of North Yorkshire Council, called again on the Government to “escalate developing a funding framework similar to that in place for flooding events, so that no other areas face the issues we experienced”.

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He added: “We have provided targeted financial assistance to the most impacted businesses, but we have significant financial pressures too and such support cannot be sustained in the long term. There must be a national solution.

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“Nearly a year on, the wildfire’s effects remain visible, and the lessons learned must be used to strengthen preparedness for future emergencies both locally and nationally.”

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Langdale Fire, 14 August. Courtesy North Yorkshire Fire And Rescue Service

Last month, Kevin Hollinrake, the MP for Thirsk and Malton whose constituency includes Filey, said: “The money to restore Fylingdales Moor is welcome and repairing the firebreaks, stabilising the slopes and bringing this precious landscape back to life is badly needed.

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​“But there is a glaring hole in the government’s announcement. Not a penny is going to the farmers, landowners and businesses who watched their livelihoods burn and who worked alongside our fire and rescue services for six weeks to save the moor. Had this been a flood, the Farming Recovery Fund and the Flood Recovery Framework would have been triggered within days. Because it was a wildfire, the people who suffered the losses are being left with nothing.”

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Alison Hume MP for Scarborough and Whitby said there were important lessons to be learnt from the wildfire.

“After establishing the APPG for Wildfire Prevention, I am determined to continue working with partners to strengthen our resilience, because unfortunately wildfires like this are likely to become more common and we must be prepared,” Ms Hume commented.

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She added: “Thanks to the bravery of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, supported by local farmers, gamekeepers and crews from across the country, no lives, homes or critical infrastructure at RAF Fylingdales were lost. It was a real team effort.”

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Cllr Jenny Kent, Environment and Climate Portfolio Holder for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “It was inspiring to be able to show our Minister for Nature Mary Creagh MP the vital protection and restoration work already achieved on some of our most sensitive ecological and archaeological sites, made possible with Mayoral funding.

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“There is much more to do, but we’re lucky to have a wealth of expertise in our region dealing with the devastation that the wildfires have caused.

“Huge thanks to all those working on this vital restoration project.”