Barbecues plea after heathland fires

The Holt Heath fire has burned through 72 hectares (177 acres) of heathland

People taking trips to the Dorset countryside have been urged not to light barbecues and campfires on open land.

Dorset Council said the 260 hectares (642 acres) of land burned during wildfires in the area so far this year was equivalent to 225 football pitches and 15 times more heathland than was burned in 2024.

Earlier this month, firefighters from 17 fire services spent six days tackling a fire at Holt Heath. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said it had been started deliberately.

"We're asking everyone to enjoy Dorset's beautiful open spaces safely and responsibly," said Gill Taylor, the council's cabinet member for health and housing.

"Wildfires are a growing threat, and we all have a role to play in preventing them."

Paul Attwell, team manager at the Dorset Heaths Partnership, said: "Wildfires have a huge impact on the local community - they put the safety of the public, wildlife and property at risk and can destroy large areas of heathland and forest.

"Heathland is rarer than rainforest, and we work hard to protect what remains. We urge everyone to help prevent fires by avoiding the use of barbecues and reporting any fire activity immediately."