There was a fire at Filsham Reedbed yesterday evening, which was attended by East Sussex Fire & Rescue, extinguished, and classed as "accidental" (Sussex Wildlife Trust website, from which the above image is copied too, many thanks). Sadly, 10,000 square metres of open reedbed was burnt to the ground.
Regular readers will know my fondness of this wonderful Sussex Wildlife Trust nature reserve, which I last visited towards the beginning of the Coronavirus Crisis lockdown (blog), when I, as ever, took delight in the beauty, peace and tranquility...
But there was no "peace and tranquility" yesterday evening when, not only was significant damage caused to the reedbed, undoubtedly much wildlife, birds and animals, would have suffered and died in the fire too... caused by perhaps what may seem as insignificant an incident as someone throwing away a cigarette. This is a reminder, just a small thoughtless act may cause death and destruction after the long dry period we have experienced.
As Sussex Wildlife Trust add "Vegetation everywhere is tinder dry, so it is vital that people visiting nature reserves and the wider countryside do not have barbecues, drop cigarette butts or leave any litter behind, as glass bottles and other reflective material can easily start a fire. Please be vigilant and if you see an unattended fire, phone 999 to report it immediately" (website).
Please please be careful, and vigilant, people, we don't want to hear of anymore incidents where suffering, death and destruction has been caused by thoughtless acts. Because of the pandemic, and the dry weather over the last couple of months, we need to be extra careful, let's look after each other and nature, many thanks...
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