National Trust warns UK cannot afford a political retreat on climate action as wildfires rage and half of England goes into drought

The charity’s Director-General, Hilary McGrady, says the UK should prepare for more extreme wildfires as Europe watches France and Spain’s emergency responses and is calling on the Government to strengthen its response to tackling climate change and increase national resilience.

In the past fortnight, 200 fires have been recorded nationwide, including a huge blaze in the Cairngorms which continues to burn, and a major incident currently impacting National Trust land at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk. Earlier this week, drought was declared across half of England, and July is set to be the driest on record. Extreme weather records continue to be broken, and the risks long identified by climate scientists are increasingly being felt across the UK.

In May this year the Government’s own advisors on climate change issued warnings about what is now unfolding across the country: drought affecting large parts of England, escalating wildfire and communities facing hotter, drier conditions than many have previously expected. The A Well Adapted UK report published by the Climate Change Committee called for more urgent and ambitious action from Government, with new targets backed by the right resources.

Hilary McGrady, Director-General at the National Trust said: “We’ve all been watching in horror as our neighbours in Europe are battling the most extreme fires. Fires like these might once have seemed unthinkable in Europe and the UK – but that certainty is gone.

“So we need action and we need political will. We must adapt, urgently, to these conditions. That means building homes fit for the future, creating wetter and more resilient landscapes, taking steps to cool our towns and cities, and helping communities prepare for the weather we’re going to experience. It means taking steps now to protect our health, our heritage and our way of life.

“But while we must adapt, we mustn’t accept these conditions as “normal” and become desensitised to the underlying issue while there is still time to change course. Every nation has to tackle the problem at source – and that means leaving fossil fuels in the ground.

“Andy Burnham and his government must not stall in their response. The UK has responded to enormous challenges over the last century, and with enough will and strong leadership, it can do so again.”

The National Trust’s Nature = Future campaign has this year been supported by many thousands of people. It calls for urgent action on nature recovery and protection of existing safeguards to the natural systems that are key to climate resilience as well as to human health and survival.

With the real and present dangers of climate change already on our doorsteps, the Trust is calling on the new Prime Minister to:

• Appoint a dedicated Cabinet-level Minister for Climate Resilience to drive co-ordinated action across the many government departments impacted by climate change, and to ensure that communities, businesses, nature and heritage are better protected from flooding, drought, extreme heat, wildfire and coastal change.

• Keep climate action and resilience at the heart of future spending and energy decisions, ensuring investment aligns with the UK's climate commitments, and recognising that delaying action will cost far more than acting now.

• Treat nature as critical national infrastructure, putting investment in peatlands, wetlands, woodlands, rivers and urban green spaces on a par with investment in transport, energy and other national infrastructure because of the protection they provide for people, property and the economy.

• Ensure land-use and infrastructure decisions support long-term resilience, so that planning processes for new housing, energy and infrastructure projects are designed to work with nature and withstand the climate conditions of the future.

Harry Bowell, Director of Land and Nature at the National Trust added: “This year, on National Trust land alone, we have witnessed huge areas of landscapes burning in mid and south Wales, in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland and the Peak District in England. Firefighters are currently supporting our team tackling a blaze on Dunwich Heath and just last week firefighters tackled a blaze across rare habitats and farms on the Isle of Wight.

“Areas that burned last year are also struggling to recover due to ongoing challenging conditions with the lack of rain and heat across a significant area of heathland at Holt Heath in Purbeck, hampering restoration efforts.

“We know what can help. Wetter, boggier landscapes can dampen fires and withstand drought. Rewiggling rivers, restoring peatlands, creating wetlands – we’ve seen how these interventions can make a difference. In the grand scheme of things, these are economical solutions that provide a plethora of benefits. It is common sense that we work with nature, not against it.”

Wildfires in the UK

• 2025 was the worst year on record for UK wildfires, with experts estimating over 47,000 hectares burned.

• In 2022, unprecedented temperatures combined with widespread wildfires meant emergency services experienced a 500% spike in 999 calls.

• Over 200 fires have been recorded in recent weeks, with the Environment Agency blaming high temperatures driven by heatwaves and record-low rainfall.

• Climate change is making summers drier, and by 2050 experts say the number of days that have the potential conditions for serious wildfires could double[3].

• Almost all UK fires are caused by people. Sources can include campfires and barbecues, cigarettes, litter and machines, as well as deliberate fires.