The combined team will be talking to visitors to remind them that the New Forest is a strictly no barbecue zone and sharing tips on how everyone can help prevent wildfires in the countryside.
The joint patrols began this weekend and are covering key locations across the New Forest. The teams will be visible and aim to connect with as many people as possible over the next two months.
The New Forest continues to be on high alert for the risk of wildfires.
To help protect the area from the potential devastation of fires, earlier this year barbecues and fire of any kind were banned across the New Forest including in its car parks.
The ban covers land managed by Forestry England, National Trust, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Hampshire County Council’s Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Local Nature Reserve and Lepe Country Park.
All barbecue facilities at Forestry England sites have been removed and prominent no barbecue signs have been installed at New Forest car parks and information points.
Since last summer, the New Forest National Park Authority has been calling on retailers across the New Forest to remove disposable barbecues from sale and for a continued ban on fires and barbecues in the open countryside of the National Park.
Following their plea, 50 shops and outlets in and around the New Forest have taken disposable barbecues off sale. The NPA is continuing the campaigning in 2021 and is recruiting additional outlets this year to support a barbecue-free New Forest.
HIWFRS Volunteer Co-ordinator Lee Joss said:
“We have a dedicated group of community volunteers who support our Service in a variety of ways, and we are thrilled that they will be able to support Forestry England and New Forest National Park rangers with engaging with members of the public to help raise awareness of the risk of fires in the open.”
Charlotte Belcher, Community Manager at Forestry England, said:
“Caring for the New Forest is a team effort and it’s great to have support from our local fire service again this summer.
“Patrolling jointly allows us to share fire safety awareness with many more people.
“This is a special place and everyone spending time here has a role to play in looking after it. This includes not using barbecues or fire of any kind and staying alert to the risk of wildfires.”
Steve Avery, Executive Director at the New Forest National Park Authority said:
“With the weather warming up and visitors increasing, it’s vitally important that everyone plays their part to help protect the New Forest and reduce the risk of wildfires.
“More than half the National Park is internationally protected because of its rare wildlife, the woods and lowland heathland are of global environmental importance for wildlife and their peaty soils help to store carbon.
“Wildfires at this time of year would not only cause immense damage to the landscape and wildlife but would also release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
“It’s great to be working with the support of Forestry England, the Fire Service and other organisations, enabling us to all reach out to more people and jointly protect the Forest for future generations.”
Station Manager Dean Hodges, HIWFRS’ wildfire lead, said:
“Although we all welcome the warmer weather, drier conditions through the summer months increase the risk of wildfires which is a real concern.
“Hopefully by raising awareness through initiatives like this, we can encourage members of the public to follow the countryside code and help us to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place.”
HIWFRS Top tips:
- Always follow the New Forest Code and countryside code
- Download the What3Words app on your smartphone and use it to help us locate fires quicker
- If you see a fire, get to safety, call 999 and try and give us an approximate size and idea of whether it’s grass, heathland, woodland etc
- Dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials properly
For more information on how to report an incident in the New Forest please visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/communities/get-involved/report-a-problem/