Trossachs Glen Finglas wildfire blamed on disposable BBQ
The disposable grill was found with a charred burger still on top after the blaze took place.
Glen Finglas is the biggest Woodland Trust site in the UK.
It lies at the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and is part of the Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve.
The barbeque was found with a burger still on top (Image: SWT) George Anderson of Woodland Trust Scotland said: 'An area roughly the size of two rugby pitches has been devastated, and at this time of year that means hundreds of nesting birds have been killed, along with lizards, slow worms, voles and other wildlife.
'If someone had taken a picnic instead of lighting a barbecue this could all have been avoided.'
The blaze happened while a very high to extreme risk of wildfire warning from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was in place across north-east, central and southern Scotland.
The Trust said that wildfires put people, wildlife and natural habitats at risk and urges visitors to woods, parks and green spaces to stay fire-free.
Mr Anderson said: 'Barbecues and campfires can spark disaster, and if you are a smoker it is good to have a tin to bring your extinguished cigarettes home, too.
'You might think you have stubbed them out, but it is surprising how they can smoulder on.
'A massive 2018 fire at our English colleagues' site at Smithills weighs heavy on the minds of all our site staff.
'With another huge fire on Dartmoor, and now this incident at Glen Finglas over the weekend, we beg the public to take care.'
READ MORE:
He added: 'With climate change the conditions where fires can become uncontrollable will likely become more frequent, so as a society we absolutely must get on top of this issue.
'Even a single ember can ignite wildfires that rage out of control. This poses serious threats to people, communities, homes and properties.
'There are grave concerns if you live on the edge of towns. The threat is not restricted to wildlife and green spaces.
'Saturday's Glen Finglas fire was bad but it could have been much worse. Thanks to an alert member of the public the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were out fast and had it under control in a couple of hours.
'Our staff and volunteers turned out too. Many thanks to them and to the person who raised the alert. I look at the images from Dartmoor and shudder. That could have been us.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
4 hours ago
- Powys County Times
The Battle of Pilleth regaled upon 623rd anniversary
TODAY marks the anniversary of the Battle of Pilleth - one of the most pivotal battles in Welsh history. The battle, also known as the Battle of Bryn Glas, was waged between Knighton and Presteigne by forces loyal to Owain Glyndwr who led a rebellion against the English from 1400-1415. In 1402 the war reached Powys. The war broke out amid turmoil across England with King Richard II dying in prison in 1400 after being overthrown by Henry Bolingbroke who would be declared King Henry IV. An ally of the new king, Reginald Grey, baron of Ruthin, then sparked a Welsh rebellion when he seized lands owned by Glyndwr who was falsely accused of treason. The result was a 15 year war waged across Wales with Powys often centre stage. This almost brings us up to the legendary 1402 battle. In June, Glyndwr and his forces visited Knighton - close enough to the garrison town of Leominster and prompted a confrontation with forces loyal to Sir Edmund Mortimer. The Wigmore Chronicle says the battle site was 'upon the hill called Bryn Glas in Maelienydd near Knighton'. Glyndwr divided his army with his archers armed with the powerful longbow placed on the slopes of the hill while the remainder were concealed in a valley to the left of the hill. As the battle waged several Welsh archers in Mortimer's army defected and loosed arrows against their former comrades with several prominent nobles loyal to the new king falling in battle. Mortimer was captured and King Henry abandoned him to his fate which ironically led to the Marches noble renouncing his allegiance and married Glyndwr's daughter. Legend says the corpses of the fallen English soldiers were mutilated by women who had accompanied the Welsh solders as revenge for past invasions on Welsh soil. However, historians claim this could well have been propaganda as the English nobles sought to deflect the impact of defeat which saw more than 1,000 English soldiers killed. The English dead lay unburied and the stench caused the area to be avoided for months and war continued for another 13 years.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Lavender thrives and 'will thank you' if you add 2 things to garden soil now
There's nothing worse than a sad-looking lavender bush, especially if you've planted it at the front of your flowerbed. But there are two things you can add to your soil that will help it thrive Lavender is a quintessential feature of many British gardens, its elegant foliage adding a touch of charm to flowerbeds and borders. It's not just a visual delight either; it serves as a natural pest deterrent, particularly for ants, whilst attracting vital pollinators to the ecosystem. However, a droopy lavender bush can be a real eyesore, especially if it's front and centre in your flowerbed. Despite being relatively easy to maintain, lavender does require certain care to ensure a healthy and abundant bloom. As a Mediterranean plant that flourishes in sunlight, it doesn't need much watering but does require well-draining soil for optimal growth. Interestingly, lavender is drought-resistant, and overwatering can lead to root rot if the soil isn't suitable, reports the Express. If you find your lavender looking a bit sparse despite using well-draining soil, horticulturist @ has revealed two additions to your soil that could help your lavender prosper. In a TikTok video, the gardening guru explained that the "two main lavenders you'll come across are English and French lavender". He noted that while English lavender is "a little bit more hardy", French lavender typically "flowers for longer". Despite their differences, it's essential to ensure "free-draining soil is absolutely crucial" for both types of lavender. Free or well-draining soil is defined as soil that allows water to flow through swiftly, creating the arid conditions that lavender thrives in. Sandy soils are often chosen for plants needing excellent drainage, but Ish also suggests incorporating two additional elements into your soil to make lavender "absolutely thrive". To enhance soil quality and its draining capability, grit and sand can be mixed into the earth. While these additions aid in drainage, it's vital not to overwater. Ish advises keeping lavender in "lightly moist soil", cautioning that many gardeners lose their lavender "because they overwater it or water it daily like most of their plants, and it causes root rot". Neglecting to trim your lavender during the summer may lead to a woody and thin appearance, but subpar soil and excessive watering can "cause black foliage and make it go gooey at the top". Instead, "your lavender will thank you" if you water it sparingly, or even rely on rainfall, ensuring it has time to dry out thoroughly afterwards.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Pupils in Wales show progress in reading and maths skills
New statistics from the 2023/24 academic year show improvements in English reading, Welsh reading, and numeracy across Wales. English reading attainment rose in all year groups compared to 2022/23, with Year 3 pupils performing better than in both 2020/21 and 2021/22. Welsh reading also saw gains across Years 3 to 9, while numeracy (procedural) showed the most improvement among younger pupils. Numeracy (reasoning) remained stable. Lynne Neagle, cabinet secretary for education, said: "It is encouraging to see progress in attainment in reading and numeracy. "This improvement highlights the impact our investments are making in schools to ensure every learner has the opportunity to reach their full potential." The data comes from anonymised results of the national personalised assessments, which are adaptive online tools used to measure pupil progress in reading and numeracy. Personalised assessments aim to support learning by identifying strengths and areas for development. Trystan Phillips, headteacher at Ysgol Gymunedol Penparc in Ceredigion, said the school has changed how it uses the assessments. Mr Phillips said: "We have evolved in our use of the personalised assessments to move away from their use as a summative resource to being a resource that truly influences progress. "They're very much now a device to support pupil progress." Owen Evans, Estyn's chief inspector, said the tools help teachers tailor support and track learning. Mr Evans said: "Personalised assessments are a useful tool for schools. "They enable teachers to tailor support for individual pupils and track progress over time. "We are pleased to see some improvement, but schools need to work together to support attainment, and ensure there is a relentless focus on improving reading and mathematics for all learners."
