Staffordshire's wild landscapes are special places - all are unique and irreplaceable. Climate change is driving hotter, drier conditions. This summer, we are moments away from fire breaking out on our reserves and the vulnerable wildlife that depends on them being destroyed.
Reducing the risk is a constant, hands-on effort. We mow grass and manage scrub to create natural firebreaks, slowing the spread of flames and giving firefighters a chance to get ahead of a blaze. We improve water access across our reserves so that, if a fire does start, it can be tackled quickly and safely. These practical steps make a real difference - but they take time, resources and specialist equipment.
People play a vital role too. On our most vulnerable reserves, seasonal staff spend time chatting with visitors about the risks of campfires and barbecues. This helps everyone understand how easily a small spark can become a serious fire. These conversations are gentle but powerful. They turn visitors into allies who help protect the wildlife around them.
And when the worst does happen, we need to be ready. That means ensuring our staff and volunteers are fully trained and equipped to respond safely to the first signs of fire - even in the most remote places. It means maintaining our offroad vehicles so we can reach incidents fast, before flames spread across heathland or into deep peat; and having insurance to access a helicopter for airborne firefighting (as we needed in The Roaches in 2018).
Every minute counts, and the right tools and training can be the difference between a small, contained fire and a devastating one.
Working with nature to restore the habitats scarred by fire - from re‑wetting peatlands to stop further drying and erosion and re‑establishing mosses and bog plants that rebuild peat over time; to reseeding and replanting native moorland vegetation and restoring heathland and grassland structure.
This work is essential if we’re going to protect the masses of nature that depend on these precious places - such as rare sundew and sphagnum plants, curlew and nightjar birds, solitary bees, butterflies, adders, weasels and brown hares.