Spring Heat, Fire, and Folly: A Warning From the Hills

Fire on a dry and windy day in the Yorkshire Dales. No where near a road, on North Moor between Coverdale and Walden.

Crazy weather, or what? This has been the hottest March in recent memory—and now, here we are, nine days into April, with no sign of rain. It’s dry, it’s warm, and things are starting to feel a little… off.

Sure, there’s been the odd cold wind up on the tops—got properly blasted in the Dales the other day—but this week, it’s been warm even up there. Valleys and peaks alike are basking in sunshine. Whether or not this is directly down to climate change, no one can say for certain. But climate change is real. The evidence is all around us.

This particular spell of weather has been caused by a blocking high pressure over the North Sea and Scandinavia. Not unheard of, but still unusual—and it’s led to some bizarre spring conditions, especially for anyone trying to grow crops or manage land.

Which brings me to another issue: fire.

There have been a lot of gorse, grass, and heather fires lately. No doubt, some of them are down to vandals—especially around the edges of urban areas. Places like the South Wales Valleys know this problem all too well. But in other regions, it may be accidental. The Peak District and parts of the Yorkshire Dales often see fires sparked by discarded BBQs or carelessly tossed cigarettes.

Still, it's a stretch to believe all these fires are the work of “local youths” or thoughtless visitors. The vast majority have been set deliberately. The term ‘wildfire’ is very misleading in the UK. Natural wildfire is not a part of this warm temperate climate zone. All fires in the UK and Ireland have been started by people either accidentally or on purpose.

Some of these are controlled burns—legal land management practices that have gone awry. But there are also allegations that some fires are being set “accidentally on purpose” by those who want to avoid the rules, only to later blame it on those same “local youths.” Either way, it’s been a stain on our landscape this spring.

With weather this hot and dry, setting any fire is an act of folly—if not outright vandalism. Fires at this time of year are damaging to reptiles, insects, ground-nesting birds, and even the mosses that help store water and keep the hills alive. It’s a real problem, and it deserves serious investigative journalism. Is anyone looking into it?

Take care out there, folks. Tread carefully. I know it’s tempting to enjoy the dry trails while they last, but spare a thought for the poor sphagnum moss—parched and patiently waiting for the next downpour (or your hiking boot!)