Green Shoots at Cleaver Heath Following Fire

At the end of August a fire broke out at Cleaver Heath, probably caused by someone lighting a fire in an improvised fire pit.

The probable cause of the fire at Cleaver Heath - a makeshift fire pit in amongst the heather

There is heartening news though as one of our volunteers captured a photo of a 'very much alive' common lizard running across one of the most badly burnt areas. Hopefully there are more lizards that managed to escape.

Common lizard seen in the burnt area on Cleaver Heath

Burnt tussocks of purple moor grass are already sprouting new leaves, deep root systems probably helped them survive.

Purple moor grass sprouting new leaves

In another area of the heath that thankfully wasn't affected by the fire, tiny 'christmas-tree' shaped heather seedlings have appeared. Common heather seed was spread over this area last year as part of a long-term programme to manage the age structure of heather across the reserve.

Heather seedling growing in an area of Cleaver Heath unaffected by the fire

John McGaw
Voluntary Warden at Cleaver Heath

The aftermath of the fire on Cleaver Heath

At the time Cheshire Wildlife Trust reported:

"….. a wildfire spanning more than 800 metres broke out at our Cleaver Heath Nature Reserve. The fire brigade responded swiftly, arriving with four engines at 11:36 am and fully extinguishing the blaze by 12:58 pm.

We’re extremely grateful to the fire service for their swift and professional response, their quick action prevented what could have been an even more devastating outcome. While we're relieved the blaze was contained, we are deeply concerned about the damage to this rare heathland and the species that depend on it. 

Incidents like this are a stark reminder of just how vulnerable these habitats are and how vital it is that we all play a part in protecting them. 

The fire appears to have been started by a makeshift firepit constructed directly on the heather at the bottom of the slope. It then spread into neighbouring vegetation and quickly moved across the reserve, undoubtedly accelerated by the long dry spell and the highly flammable nature of the heathland itself."

Graham Borden Long, Living Landscape Officer, said:

“Cleaver Heath is part of the Heswall Dales Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is protected due to the rare and vulnerable habitat found at the reserve. The fire at this time of year will have had a huge impact on a vast number of invertebrates, reptiles, and nesting birds.” 

Cleaver Heath is a rare and precious lowland heathland that supports a rich mix of wildlife all year round, from butterflies and breeding warblers to kestrels hunting across the heath. Over 50 bird species have been recorded, including linnets, redwings, and winter-visiting woodcock. Scrub and surrounding woodland add even more variety, providing shelter for mammals like foxes, bats, and badgers. Around 85% of UK heathland has been lost over the past 150 years due to agricultural development and conifer planting, making this diverse habitat increasingly rare and vital for many declining species."