'Brilliant' firefighters hailed for saving Ironbridge nature reserve from worst of wildfire

The custodians of an Ironbridge nature reserve that was hit by wildfire have thanked “brilliant” firefighters for their swift work to minimise the damage.

Two fire crews and an incident support unit were called to the Beeches Field, between Lodge Lane and Orchard Lane, shortly before 5pm on Thursday (July 30).

A small fire had broken out in the field, which along with the Lodge Field is part of an environmentally significant ‘green corridor’ on the northern edge of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.

Both fields provide a range of habitats for plants, butterflies, insects and animals.

Fortunately the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service crews were able to extinguish the fire and keep the damage to the landscape to a minimum.

Kim Richardson, secretary of the Ironbridge Meadows Group, told the Shropshire Star the firefighters were “brilliant”.

“We are extremely grateful to them for minimising the damage caused and acting so swiftly.”

She said that an ecologist and the group’s chair have been consulted and “they both feel that the damage is insignificant, the field will recover next year, the seeds are in the ground and it's more or less the same as if the meadow had been cut”.

She also said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

The Beeches Field and Lodge Field are managed by the Ironbridge Meadows Group in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council, which owns the land.

The groups hold regular work parties, clearing invasive plants such as brambles, and maintaining suitable habitats for wildflowers, birds, butterflies, dragonflies and amphibians.