HUNDREDS of rare animals and plants were destroyed in a fire on a nature reserve.

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) say the fire on Winfrith Heath nature reserve on Sunday destroyed 1.2 hectares of wildlife habitat, equivalent to the size of roughly two football pitches.

Five fire crews from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue tackled the blaze.

The cause of the fire is unknown, although southerly winds and dry ground would have made the area more susceptible to fire taking hold.

Whether it was done deliberately or through neglect has not yet been established.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s chief executive, Brian Bleese, said: “A fire on a nature reserve at any time of year is devastating for wildlife, but spring is a key time with the bird nesting season beginning in March, so this is especially worrying.

"We are also concerned for the safety of visitors on the site.

"We are very grateful to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue for acting so swiftly to try and save as much habitat as possible but the fact remains that possibly hundreds of animals and plants have perished in this fire, and the damaged habitat will make it harder for the surviving species to thrive on.”

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service’s Tactical Wildfire Officer, Andy Elliott said: “It is a great shame to have to attend these incidents.

"The nature reserves are beautiful places and they contain some very special wildlife. Unfortunately, many of these fires are either deliberate or through carelessness.

"Please take great care when visiting the countryside and only do so if the site is close to your home. Stay at Home, protect our Emergency Services and Save Lives.”

Andy added: "Incidents such as these put firefighters under additional threat from COVID-19 because it brings many people together to fight these fires. If you have to visit the countryside please be considerate and do all you can to protect our Emergency Services.”

Winfrith Heath nature reserve is a haven for rare and threatened wildlife and is home to all six species of reptile, including the UK’s rarest reptiles, the sand lizard and smooth snake.

Ground nesting birds such lapwings and skylarks and the rare Dartfold Warbler can also be found here, along with common heather, meadow thistle and the rare bright blue marsh gentian wildflower. Cattle are grazing for most of the year on the site.

Dorset Wildlife Trust is pleading with the public to use nature reserves responsibly during the Covid-19 crisis. This includes adhering to social distancing whilst on a nature reserve, keeping dogs on leads and returning another time if the nature reserve is busy. We’re also asking that on nature reserves where cattle are present, care is taken to close gates (using gloves), to stop cattle escaping.

For more advice about using nature reserves for daily exercise, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/news.