Bees, butterflies and birds could be attracted back to a fire-hit city park as a local politicians launches a campaign to make it bloom again.
Exeter’s Mincinglake Valley was at the centre of a major incident this week when firefighters tackled a blaze which destroyed around 50 acres of parched grassland.
More than 20 fire crews were involved, and resources from 23 stations across Devon and Somerset were deployed to the park.
Devon Wildlife Trust, which manages the park on behalf of the city council, said the flames had caused damage to fencing, benches and other site infrastructure. No livestock were on site at the time of the fire, and no housing was damaged.
No cause for the fire has been specified.
Devon County Councillor Ed Hill (Ind, Pinhoe and Mincinglake) says he is looking for a local charity or community group to help turn the devastation into an opportunity to boost biodiversity and help wildlife return.
Native wildflower seed could be spread across parts of the affected area as it recovers.
Cllr Hill says he will support an application from an eligible local charity or community organisation for money from his County Councillor Locality Budget allocation to help pay for the wildflower seed.
Before the fire, said Cllr Hill, significant parts of the affected land were dominated by bramble and thorny vegetation. However, the recovery presents an opportunity to encourage a more diverse mixture of native flowering plants, benefiting bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds and wildlife.
He added: “I want us to grasp victory from the jaws of disaster and create something positive from it.
“Rather than simply watching the area grow back exactly as it was, I would like to explore whether we can help nature recover with a more diverse array of native wildflowers.
“Imagine parts of the valley coming back next spring and summer filled with colour, bees, butterflies and birds. It would be something positive for wildlife and something the whole community could enjoy.
“Out of disaster can come sunshine.”
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