A section of protected woodland has been badly damaged in a fire that firefighters said was probably started deliberately. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the 33-acre (13-hectare) Barton Hills National Nature Reserve, in Barton-le-Clay, at about 21:00 BST on Friday. Firefighters tackled a fire involving trees and brush measuring about 30m by 30m (100ft by 100ft) before extinguishing it by about 03:30 and returning to dampen hotspots. Reserve warden Dean Elcome said he believed the blaze had been caused by a disposable BBQ being thrown into the undergrowth. Barton Hills, located in the north Chilterns, is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and protected by law. "The fire destroyed a small part of Barton Hills," said Elcome. "A swathe of the woodland has either been damaged or destroyed... but it could have been much worse." He added: "Please, please, please don't think it's OK to visit with the intention of having a fire or BBQ on site – you're not welcome. "It's illegal, thoughtless, extremely dangerous, and if found you will be prosecuted – I just think people don't care and have a complete lack of respect." According to the Woodland Trust, the
May 30, 2026 → May 30, 2026
A section of protected woodland has been badly damaged in a fire that firefighters said was probably started deliberately. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the 33-acre (13-hectare) Barton Hills National Nature Reserve, in…
Read original at BBC →1 updates from 1 source.
A section of protected woodland has been badly damaged in a fire that firefighters said was probably started deliberately. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the 33-acre (13-hectare) Barton Hills…
Read original at BBC →What this story stands on. Tier 0 is a primary record or the subject's own words; higher tiers must be attributed, never stated as bare fact.
A section of protected woodland has been badly damaged in a fire that firefighters said was probably started deliberately. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the 33-acre (13-hectare) Barton Hills National Nature Reserve, in…
View source →Tier key: T0 = Primary source · T1 = Wire · T2 = Outlet report · T3 = Commentary
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least…
A man has been been taken to hospital in a serious condition following a van fire at a petrol station in Leicester. Leicestershire Police said emergency services were called to…
Two men have been found guilty of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property and a car connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych,…
Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment Wednesday against eight pro-Palestinian activists who are accused of conspiring to run a criminal intimidation campaign against…
A controversial banner which police removed from a play park in County Tyrone on Friday has been replaced. The display was initially treated by the Police Service of Northern…
The police are treating a fire at a large derelict building on the outskirts of Londonderry as arson. Firefighters spent three hours dealing with the blaze at the former North…
