New aerial images show extent of damage at fire-torn Dunwich Heath, as conservation charity warns of long recovery ahead

In the weeks following the fire, thousands of people donated to the Trust’s emergency fundraising appeal, which far surpassed its £500,000 target. The money raised for Dunwich will fund two years of initial work to repair and recover the heath.

Russell Clement, General Manager for the National Trust, says: “We’re at the start of a very long process to restore this amazing heathland, a process which has been made possible thanks to the overwhelming support of the public.

“We’re carefully undertaking surveying, monitoring and research to understand how best to help the landscape recover, as well as developing a longer-term plan to make the area more resilient, which we hope will reduce future wildfire risk. 

“This is the beginning of a very long journey, but after three challenging months, we are looking to the future with hope.”

Over the past three months, National Trust staff and external contractors have carried out initial impact assessments, including monitoring air quality, burn severity, cliff stability and testing samples of water, ash and soil. 

One of the most significant impacts has been on soil condition. 

Some areas have experienced an 82% loss of organic matter which, longer-term, could reduce the soil’s ability to store water, which would make it even more vulnerable to drought. In the affected areas, this could slow down how quickly vegetation recovers.

While some signs of regrowth are visible in the landscape, Trust staff are cautious about what this means for the regeneration of the site, and are warning of a long journey ahead.

Matt Wilson, Coast and Countryside Manager for the National Trust, says: “These images tell us much more about how different parts of the landscape have suffered.

“Regrowth of bracken and gorse has been spotted in places, which suggests that some nutrients remain in what’s left of the soil. However, these aren’t the species we want to see dominate in the long term.  

“The heathland at Dunwich is a man-made and carefully managed landscape developed over centuries. Bracken and gorse grow quickly and out-compete slower growing plants like heather. Managing them will become a major part of our work on the heath, so while on the surface this appears like life is returning, it will require a huge effort to ensure these species don’t impact the recovery of the heathland."

As well as removing more dominant plants like bracken, National Trust staff and volunteers carefully manage the landscape to create a mosaic of heather at different stages of growth which provides the best conditions for wildlife to thrive.

LiDAR surveys carried out by East Suffolk Council’s Coastal Team have helped create a baseline and mapped out priority areas. The Trust is also working with the Public Rights of Way team on how to reinstate access routes. 

Work is also ongoing with specialist engineers to investigate unexploded ordnance and other hazardous debris which has emerged, an echo of Dunwich Heath’s use in Exercise Kruschen, a military training exercise to help prepare for the D-Day landings.  

The new images also show the dramatic impact on the trees across the heathland. Many of the trees left standing have been badly burned with scorched leaves creating a stark contrast against the blackened landscape.

Preliminary work has begun to understand the full impact the fire has had on their stability – or on the roots which have been burned underground. The National Trust hopes to retain as many trees as possible where it is safe to do so, recognising the role deadwood plays in supporting wildlife, but any found to be a risk will need to be removed.

Matt Wilson continues:  "We don’t yet know the full impact on the trees. Some were felled and cleared while the fire was burning, to help fire service access, but many of those still standing will have been weakened and may not survive the winter storms and we need to make sure the site is safe for visitors. 

“While the loss of trees is never something we want to see, standing deadwood provides habitat for insects, fungi and other species. 

“Retaining suitable trees where it is safe to do so will be an important part of the site's ecological recovery." 

Dunwich Heath has remained closed to visitors since the fire, which destroyed visitor routes and waymarkers, and rendered much of the landscape unrecognisable. Ground temperatures remain high in some areas and the terrain is unstable in places, with dust and air pollution continuing to be a concern despite recent periods of rainfall.  

Russell Clement, General Manager for the National Trust’s Suffolk & Essex Coast portfolio, said: “Reopening remains our top priority and we’re working hard to make it safe for visitors to return, including establishing new visitor routes. With help from East Suffolk Council’s Coastal Team, we’ve already made good progress to assess cliff stability.

“Although there is no access to the heath itself, people can now walk along the beach between Dunwich village and Sizewell, as well as access Westleton Heath and large areas of RSPB Minsmere. We hope to be able to offer limited access to Dunwich Heath, as soon as it’s safe to do so, however it will likely take several months before the heath fully reopens.

There has been widespread public support since this devastating wildfire. The National Trust recently handed in a petition to No 10 Downing Street, with over 148,000 signatures, which called on Government to make climate resilience a national mission, invest in nature to reduce environmental risks and support Fire and Rescue Services with the funding needed to prepare and respond to wildfires.