In the aftermath of the wildfire at Dunwich Heath, the National Trust's Director General, Hilary McGrady, has called for a government response to match the collective efforts of local communities and emergency services. The blaze, which destroyed the heathland, was one of 200 fires in the UK that fortnight, fuelled by an extraordinarily dry summer.
Three key actions for Andy Burnham
McGrady outlines three priorities for the Greater Manchester Mayor and other politicians. Firstly, climate change and the crisis in nature must be treated as a societal and economic issue, not just an environmental one. The fire at Dunwich not only destroyed a historic landscape and wildlife habitats but also cost the local economy and affected people's way of life. In 2022, a wildfire destroyed 18 homes in East London during a 40C heatwave.
Secondly, the Prime Minister needs to invest in the power of nature. Restoring drained peat bogs, undoing river dredging, and treating nature as critical infrastructure, like transport or utilities, are essential. The Minsmere wetlands in Suffolk acted as a natural firebreak between the flames and the Sizewell nuclear complex.
Public support and petition
Research with More in Common found that 83% of people think restoring nature is an important or top priority. The National Trust has launched a petition calling on the government to make climate resilience a national mission, support fire services, and treat nature as critical infrastructure.
Lastly, McGrady emphasizes tackling the issue at source by getting off fossil fuels. Adaptation without mitigation is like "mopping the floor while the tap's still running," as a WWF colleague said. The UK previously had cross-party consensus on climate action, and the current government was elected on a promise to make Britain a clean energy superpower.
Thousands have donated to the Trust's fundraiser, raising over £350,000 to help Dunwich Heath recover. McGrady concludes that collective spirit and hope are alive in Britain, but political will is needed to match.
