Wales wildfires threaten centuries-long recovery of peatlands and wildlife

Natural Resources Wales' Nick Thomas described 2026 as the most severe wildfire year Wales has ever faced, noting that peat burned in upland areas grows only about a millimetre annually, so its loss could postpone vegetation return for centuries. Major blazes ripped through the Rhinogydd mountains in Gwynedd, scorching more than 2,000 acres for nearly two weeks, while a separate fire forced the evacuation of a village in Conwy county and another plume was detectable from Cardiff.

Thomas cautioned that stripped soil no longer acts as a sponge, heightening downstream flood danger. The RSPB Cymru highlighted the threat to breeding birds and fragile habitats, and Pensychnant Conservation Centre warden Julian Thompson reported that rare moths, adders and other invertebrates were likely eradicated. Volunteers and local educators stressed the need for public awareness to prevent fire-starting litter, as fires now occur almost weekly across the Welsh countryside.