Disposable barbecue causes damage to nature reserve
Approximately one acre of coastal nature reserve used by nesting birds and reptiles has been destroyed in a fire which is believed to have been started by the careless disposal of a barbecue.
According to Wildlife Trusts South & West Wales (WTSWW), the full impact on nesting birds and reptile populations at the coastal heath and limestone grassland vegetation on Gower remains unknown.
Late in the day on Monday, June 10, WTSWW Reserves Manager Paul Thornton received an urgent alert: a gorse fire had broken out on Overton Cliff Nature Reserve, Gower.
Irreparable damage
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) spent three critical hours containing the wildfire, working tirelessly to prevent it from spreading further and causing irreparable damage to the area’s vital ecological habitats.
The fire is believed to have been started by the careless disposal of a barbecue.
Approximately one acre of coastal heath and limestone grassland vegetation was destroyed in the blaze. The full impact on nesting birds and reptile populations remains unknown, but the fire came perilously close to areas known for the scarce Silky wave moth.
This moth is part of the Natur am Byth project, where partner organizations collaborate to enhance the resilience of vulnerable species populations.
Paul Thornton shared his concerns about managing the reserves on the south Gower coast. He said: “Over the last five or so years, we have made huge progress in restoring these habitats to good condition.
“A combination of mechanical intervention and grazing livestock has resulted in a more open, diverse habitat with a mosaic of vegetation types, rather than even-aged blocks of gorse.
“It was devastating to see the fire, which started in an area that would have been inaccessible before our vegetation management efforts.
“We encourage people to visit and enjoy our wild places, but I urge them to help us by sticking to the Wales Coast Path and other public rights of way that cross our land.
“Please think about the consequences of barbecues, fires, and other activities on our reserves.”
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the local firefighters in Reynoldston for their heroic efforts. The fire station is currently recruiting on-call firefighters.
For more information, please contact the station directly.
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Disposable BBQ need to be banned yesterday. They also cause awful injuries when they are discarded at the beach and other places.
There are still nutters who think that scooping a few handfuls of sand over a piping hot pressed metal BBQ is enough to render it safe. They can’t be bothered to take their waste to the nearest collecting point or home if there is no viable alternative.
I would say portable ones. Not disposable, but ones you fork out a decent bit of loot for and will take it home.
But then there are times when no BBQ should ever be used during dry spells.
There are always idiots who care not about the environment they claim to love by either littering, building fires, or in this case discarding disposable barbeques causing wildfires that not only damages & scars our beautiful landscape but also a endangers life and kills numerous animals and thousands of insects that unfortunately lie in the pathway of the flames.
Taking barbecues of any kind out into the countryside including beaches and woodlands should be completely banned and heavy penalties imposed on the ones that don’t comply with the rule. Barbecues should be confined to back gardens only and then with strict rules in place. Apologies to proficient users but people with limited intelligence are spoiling it. I use and enjoy a barbecue in my garden and that’s it!! If someone has clothes drying on their line I don’t use it.