Moor still recovering from wildfire eight years ago

A moorland hit by a devastating wildfire eight years ago has still not fully recovered.

The summer 2018 blaze on Winter Hill near Bolton lasted 42 days and took about 100 firefighters to control and put out.

While some of the landscape has recovered, Alan Wright, from The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, said the impact was still visible.

He said: "The hill was completely black and this whole hill behind us was on fire. And it's not quite got the same kind of vegetation [now]."

He added: "Any time there's a fire it will kill lots and lots of fledglings, it will kill lots of mammals, it will kill lots of insects, and then it will create areas which are just no-go areas for years to come because there are no food plants."

Wright said that despite the long-term damage, a lot of work has been done to help re-grow plants and make the environment one in which wildlife could thrive again.

"A lot of it is down to making sure the land is wet, and kind of creating areas which are wet, and looking after areas and making sure that the right type of vegetation is growing," he added.

Since the end of June this year, more than 100 firefighters and volunteers have been tackling wildfires at Dove Stone in Saddleworth, and Tintwistle and Swineshaw, near Glossop in Derbyshire.

An area the size of 1,250 football pitches has been burned.

He added The Wildlife Trust is now calling for more conversations with landowners, farmers, conservation groups and the fire service "about how this seriously needs to be sorted, because we can't put up with this happening every single year".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.