Wildlife habitats devastated in UK wildfires could take 25 years to recover, experts warn

Published: 22:26, 1 August 2026 | Updated: 22:27, 1 August 2026 Fire crews continued to battle wildfires across the country last night, as experts warned that rare wildlife habitats devastated in the biggest blaze could take 25 years to recover. Emergency services were hoping that cooler temperatures forecast for many parts of the UK in the coming days might ease the pressure on firefighters, after crews were called to hundreds of grassland fires in the past sweltering fortnight. The Met Office announced that England and Wales were set to record the driest July since records began, adding that the month saw an 'exceptional combination of extreme heat, abundant sunshine and an almost complete absence of rainfall'. Provisional statistics showed only 5.6mm of rain fell in England in July - less than half the previous record low of 13.4mm set in 1911. Wales saw only 7.9mm, almost a third of the previous record of 22.6mm also set in 1911. The conditions have left much of England and Wales in drought, with over 24 million people under official hosepipe bans. More than 20 fire services, from Durham in the North to Dorset and Somerset in the South, have been forced to respond to wildfires in recent days, with the National Fire Chiefs Council reporting that the risk of further outbreaks still remains 'elevated'. The worst blaze hit Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, with the National Trust's director-general Hilary McGrady describing the loss of an important habitat for some of the UK's rarest species as 'devastating'. Adam Rowlands, the RSPB's area manager in Suffolk, told the BBC that the habitats devastated by the 'utterly sickening' fire could take up to 25 years to recover.  The Met Office announced that England and Wales were set to record the driest July since records began. Drone footage of the wildfire in Dunwich Heath  Provisional statistics showed only 5.6mm of rain fell in England in July - less than half the previous record low of 13.4mm set in 1911. A drone view shows scorched woodland near Dunwich after the coastal heathland blaze More than 20 fire services, from Durham in the North to Dorset and Somerset in the South, have been forced to respond to wildfires in recent days. Firefighters tackle the blaze at Dunwich Heath 'The acrid smell, it's not just smoke, you have a sense that animals have perished in the flames,' he said.  However the situation was being brought under control, with fire chiefs reducing the number of appliances fight the blaze from 14 to eight after 'positive firefighting action'. Crews are expected to remain there for up to three days. The 371-acre blaze on the heath, three miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power plan began on the nearby RSPB Minsmere wetland reserve at 5.30pm on Wednesday. The National Trust said that the heath was an important area for wildlife such as nightjars, skylarks and the rare Dartford warbler, pictured above, as well as adders, lizards and slow worms, plus butterflies including the rare silver-studded blue. In neighbouring Essex, the fire service received 2,029 emergency calls last week - one of its busiest ever - with crews despatched to 570 incidents. The Met Office forecast cooler temperatures for parts of the UK today, with a maximum of 26C predicted. Forecaster Alex Burkill said: 'Many places, especially in the South, are crying out for some much-needed rain. 'While there's a bit of rain on the horizon for next week, there's not much to come this weekend.'