Photographs show recovery of fire-damaged heath

Before and after images have been released to show how a heath is being restored back to life after a major fire.

A blaze, which was believed to have been started deliberately in April 2022, saw 20 families forced to flee their homes at Canford Heath in Poole, Dorset.

Over the last 18 months Dorset Peat Partnership, led by Dorset Wildlife Trust, has worked to restore 172 hectares (425 acres) of damaged peatlands.

"I am delighted to see the completion of such important work at Canford Heath," said Councillor Andy Hadley.

The portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy, at BCP Council said: "Peatlands across Dorset have, unfortunately, been in a state of decline over recent years. This project secures essential revitalisation to the habitats.

"Restoring peatlands will deliver long-term ecological benefits for the surrounding areas and help protect the many species that live in our wetlands and help protect the urban area from flooding events."

The work forms part of a £1m project by Dorset Peat Partnership - of which Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is a partner - to restore 16 peatlands across the county.

Canford Heath's restoration has taken about six weeks with fire-damaged pines removed and repurposed to create a functioning bog system.

Timber from the pines has been used to block drainage channels, dense areas of Molinia grass tussocks have been reduced to increase groundwater saturation, and contour bunds have been created with peat to hold water behind.

All of this work improves the habitat for nature and reduces the risk of flooding, carbon emissions and urban wildfires, Dorset Peat Partnership said.

It is hoped the rewetting of Canford Heath will help rare species like dragonflies to thrive in the area.

Grace Hervé, project manager at Dorset Peat Partnership, said: "After many months of planning, it's great to see the works completed and to already see water being stored on the heath using nature-based solutions.

"We hope that local users will be impressed with the new habitats that will form in the future."

Dorset's heathland has faced a series of fires in recent years.

In April firefighters were called to two blazes at Upton Heath and Canford Heath in Poole.

The fire service also believed those incidents were caused by "human intervention".

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