Damage to wildlife from fire at Lodmoor Country Park

FIREFIGHTERS have been praised for preventing a blaze from spreading to the main part of a Weymouth nature reserve – although it's emerged that birds' nests and eggs were still destroyed in the flames.

Firecrews tackled a large blaze on the edge of the RSPB reserve at Lodmoor last Saturday, April 23.

Three fire appliances from Weymouth and Portland, with two Land Rover pumps from Bere Regis and Maiden Newton were tackling what was described as a ‘significant heath fire’ in a reeded area behind Lodmoor Country Park.

The RSPB says vegetation fires at this time of year will kill a host of animals.

In particular it would have wiped out the homes of song thrushes and Cetti’s warblers which were breeding in the area.

A spokesperson for the RSPB said: “Saturday's fire didn't spread onto the RSPB reserve at Lodmoor, thanks to the efforts of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“While we are relieved about this and hugely grateful for the efforts of the fire crew, any vegetation fire at this time of year will cause damage to wildlife – destroying bird's nests and killing reptiles, mammals and insects.

“Song thrushes and Cetti’s warblers were breeding in this area and their nests and eggs will have been destroyed in the flames.”