Community support, hard work and patience will be the key to recovery for one of Exeter’s precious Valley Parks after it was struck by a devastating wildfire, Devon Wildlife Trust has said.
Fifty acres of Mincinglake Valley Park and farmland were hit by a wildfire on the afternoon of Tuesday 11 August. At one stage 20 fire crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service fought the blaze.
Severe damage was inflicted on land which is managed by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of Exeter City Council, as well as to an area of privately owned land within the Valley Park’s boundaries.
As yet, no clear cause has been identified for the fire which spread across grassland and scrubby areas and which destroyed wildlife habitats, 700 metres of fencing and visitor infrastructure. A full report into the blaze is expected from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service in the coming weeks.
Staff from Devon Wildlife Trust and Exeter City Council have since been on-site to assess the damage which engulfed the grassland, shrub and hedgerow homes of animals including songbirds, butterflies, moths, harvest mice and field voles.
Matt Boydell, who is Devon Wildlife Trust’s Land Manager, said: “It is very sad to see the impact the fire has had at Mincinglake, the loss of habitat for wildlife, and the impact on people locally who use the Valley Park for their daily walk, early morning run or an hour of birdwatching.
“But nature is incredibly resilient, given time and support it will return over the coming weeks and months and, in a few years, will once again be a thriving wildlife-rich area.
“In the days since the fire, we have received many generous offers of support from the local community, for which we are very grateful. We share both people’s concern for this much-loved site and their sense of loss.
“At present we are asking for patience while our staff undertake work to assess the exact extent of damage to the Valley Park and its infrastructure. When this is complete, we’ll be working with Exeter City Council to put in place a longer-term recovery plan, and to begin the work of restoring this much-loved urban green space as a place for the local community and wildlife. It’s during this phase that community support will be critical.”
Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor with responsibility for public realm management, said: “We know how much the valley parks mean to people living in Exeter – they are the city’s green lungs – and it’s so heartening to see the community reacting in such a positive way.
“Mincinglake Valley Park is in good hands with Devon Wildlife Trust and I have no doubt that the area will recover in good time and continue playing a big part in the lives of local people and local wildlife.”
Parts of Mincinglake Valley Park escaped the fire and remain open for people to continue to visit and enjoy, but Devon Wildlife Trust is asking people to avoid accessing badly burnt areas of the site for the time being.
The Trust, which manages 60 nature reserves across the county, is also asking people to be ‘wildfire aware’ and play a part in preventing other fires from starting. Matt Boydell said:
“A scorching summer has left our landscapes parched and vulnerable. BBQs, campfires, fireworks, cigarettes, even litter can bring about wildfires. We all need to be vigilant and if anyone spots fire or smoke they should call the emergency services immediately on 999.”
The charity will be sharing further updates on Mincinglake Valley Park and details of how local people can help in its recovery via Devon Wildlife Trust’s Facebook and Instagram.
The Mincinglake Valley Park fire came less than a week after a serious but smaller wildfire was extinguished at Barley Valley Park in the Redhills area of the city. Devon Wildlife Trust, which manages both sites, has established a fundraiser to help restore local landscapes impacted by this summer’s wildfires. People can donate via the ‘Wildfire Fund’ button at www.devonwildlifetrust.org
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