Wildfire damages city's first 'tiny forest'

6 hours ago

Joanna Taylorin Cambridge

News image — The tiny forest was planted on a shared open space in Chesterton, Cambridge

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Flames can be seen behind a wooden gate that surrounds a densely packed group of trees. Dried out grass on the other side of the gate is also on fire, with smoke rising from it. — The tiny forest was planted on a shared open space in Chesterton, Cambridge

Part of Cambridge's first "tiny forest" may have to be replanted after it was damaged by fire.

Thursday's blaze at Five Trees Court in Chesterton blackened trees and grass on the fringe of the 200 sq-m area.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called at about 14:45 GMT and two crews extinguished the flames.

One witness said the fire had come "within around 5m (16ft) of people's wooden garden fences" and roughly doubled in size within 10 minutes.

"I still can't believe we stumbled across something like this in a quiet corner of Cambridge," he said.

"It isn't hard to imagine that things could have turned out very differently, had the fire not been contained so quickly."

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Two fire fighters in orange and black hi-vis uniforms with yellow helmets are in action pointing hoses and beaters at a fire behind a wooden gate enclosing trees. Next to them is a large patch of burnt grass with smoke rising from it. — Two fire crews responded to the blaze on Thursday afternoon

A "tiny forest" is a dense plot of native trees planted in an urban area to boost biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Earthwatch aims to have planted 500 across Europe by 2030.

The cluster of trees was planted in 2022 by Cambridge City Council and local people, and funded by the Forestry Commission.

It is maintained by the council and has since become a habitat for bees, butterflies and beetles.

A spokesperson for the authority said: "Following the fire, tree officers have been to the park to examine the damage, and we will next assess whether or not replacement planting or other restorative work may be needed there."

NIKKI THIAN Four people standing on a patch of wood chippings surrounded by wooden posts where saplings have been planted. In the background there is a strip of grass separated from houses by a wooden fence. — Volunteers including Matt Boxall helped plant the tiny forest in 2022

Matt Boxall is a local resident who helped to plant the forest.

He said he was "relieved that my little stake in our community has pulled through".

"It's scary to see these fires come to our doorstep in Cambridge.

"It's really made me think about how I engage with climate change to help protect my community and others from more fires in the future."

The exact cause is not known, although eyewitnesses reported seeing metal cans and glass bottles dumped among the trees close to where the fire started.

Nik Shelton, a spokesperson for the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust, said wildfires are currently a "big concern for habitats", particularly after fires at Holme Fen and Lattersey Nature Reserve near Peterborough.

"After the prolonged heat and drought conditions, the ground is tinder-dry and fire can spread easily," he said.

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC The blackened leaves of an oak tree on a branch sticking out over a wooden fence. There are also some green leaves beside it. — Firefighters prevented the spread of the wildfire further into the densely packed tree reservation

"Unauthorised open fires and barbecues are not permitted on nature reserves and we would urge people not to discard cigarettes or glass bottles, which can act as magnifying glasses and lead to flames starting.

"This is a situation that will occur more regularly as climate change takes hold – we need to ensure we have resilient, well-managed reserves and healthy wetlands for the future."

More than half of England, including East Anglia, is in drought, which has been linked to climate change.