POWYS’ recent sunny spell has been delightful, but residents are being reminded of the devastation the hot weather can also cause to wildlife and habitats.

The dry weather in recent weeks has led to an increase in wildfires – which could have started accidentally, but could also have been started deliberately, by campfires.

Dyfed Powys Police has highlighted one incident from last week, after the remnants of a campfire was found in the Ceri Forest, in Montgomeryshire.

“Cannot stress the severity of consequences of lighting fires in and around forestry. Remnants of a camp fire found at Ceri Forest today,” said the force’s Rural Crime Team in a tweet on Wednesday, May 31.

The Ceri Forest is situated along the Kerry Ridgeway, a long-distance regional footpath that runs from the village of Kerry to Bishops Castle.

And Natural Resources Wales are asking countryside visitors not to light fires or fly-camp. On Friday the organisation said in a series of tweets: “The recent warm, dry weather has led to an increase in wildfires that are devastating to wildlife and habitats.

“With the sunshine set to continue over the weekend, we’re asking countryside visitors not to light fires or fly-camp.

“Disposable BBQs are the cause of many wildfires. They should only be used at designated places where signs allow them, then be disposed of responsibly after the ashes are cold.

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“Fly-camping is staying overnight in vehicles or tents without the landowners’ permission. It increases the risk of starting wildfires from campfires, BBQs and discarded litter.

“If you are planning on camping in Wales, please book ahead at an official campsite to protect the countryside. Enjoy the great outdoors responsibly by following the Countryside Code.”

On Saturday, NRW added: “Every year fire is responsible for the destruction of thousands of hectares of countryside, open space and wildlife habitats.

Many of these fires are preventable. Help stop grass fires.”

Just last month, two Powys firefighting crews worked for more than seven hours to battle a mountain wildfire fire that was started deliberately on Cwm Sorgwm, near Llangors Mountain, in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.

Crews from Talgarth and Brecon were called to the scene just before 1pm on Wednesday, May 17, battling the fire until 8pm.

County Times:

The force has highlighted the work done by Operation Dawns Glaw in battling fires started deliberately in rural Powys in recent years, with incidents becoming more frequent.

Operation Dawns Glaw is a multi-agency taskforce working across Wales to reduce, and where possible eliminate, the impact of grass fires.

In 2022 fire services across Wales attended 3,269 grassfire incidents – an increase of 62 per cent on the previous year, with deliberate grass fires increasing by 1,542 (47 per cent) to 2,263.