Forestry England has started a long-term project to bring nature back to more than 1 square kilometre of the New Forest that burned in August. The fire, which began in a burning van, damaged rare heathland, ancient woodland and layers of peat that store carbon.
Heather full of seed has been harvested from nearby parts of the forest and spread across the worst-hit ground, forming a protective mat that encourages new plants to grow. The agency used the same technique after a 1989 wildfire, and says that area has now fully recovered.
Teams are also looking at ways to protect the damaged roots of ancient beech and oak trees. The boggy areas, which helped slow the blaze, suffered least and are recovering fastest. Dave Morris of Forestry England said plants and wildlife are already returning there.
