Concerns for beauty spot after wildfires break out

A wildlife trust said it was concerned about the damage caused by a fire near Colchester because the site was "of national importance".

On Sunday, a fire broke out for the second time in three days on Middlewick Ranges, owned by the Ministry of Defence.

The land supports a wide variety of insects, fungi and spiders, and is home to one of the country's largest populations of nightingales.

Essex Wildlife Trust's director of conservation, Jeremy Dagley, said the fire could be "really damaging" to insects, birds and spiders, especially if it burns the ground slowly.

According to the trust, the Middlewick Ranges cover about 76 hectares (187 acres) - equivalent to about 106 football pitches.

"It's got some really rare species because of the conditions there," Dagley said.

"Digger wasps, solitary bees, bumblebees, spiders - they like the dry bare ground.

"If it's a slow-burning fire, it will kill off what's below the soil, and as it burns it will create ash, which accumulates and acts as a suppressing blanket, introducing nutrients to the site which are not good for insects."

Dagley also expressed concern about how it would affect the bird population.

"It supports one of the largest populations of nightingales in the country - it is an iconic but rapidly declining species," he added.

While suggesting that the site was "of national importance" for wildlife, Dagley said it was not officially designated as such.

Dougal Urquhart, chair of The Colchester Natural History Society, said he was concerned that it could "take years" for the site to get back to normal and be fully suitable for wildlife again.

"It's unlikely nightingales will be able to nest there when they return next spring because the area has been so badly burned," he said.

The site is also used for Army training exercises and has public footpaths.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said about 50 firefighters tackled a blaze at the site on Friday. Another 30 firefighters returned to the area on Sunday after flames were spotted there again.

The cause for both incidents has been recorded by the fire service as "unknown".

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