Fire ‘huge blow’ to local farmers

Fire ‘huge blow’ to local farmers

5 May 2021

FARMERS leaders visited the Mournes last week in the aftermath of the wildfire which caused widespread devastation in the area.

Ulster Farmers’ Union president Victor Chestnutt and other UFU representatives met several local farmers, who were affected by the blaze which destroyed over 900 acres of rich habitat.

Mr Chestnutt said he was devastated “to see the destruction caused by the recent wildfire in one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic areas”.

He continued: “It’s a huge blow to the local environment, habitats and community, but also to our farmers who farm in the Mournes.

“The Mourne farmers that we met had been preparing ewes with lambs to go back to this hill for a summer graze. Now it can’t be done until there is a recovery phase, and it impacts their farm business.”

Mr Chestnutt pointed out that wildfires are illegal unless carefully planned and strictly controlled. The one that was raging in the Mournes, was on the verge of entering Donard Forest.

“If the fire had reached Donard Forest, it would have put lives, homes and businesses at serious risk,” he continued.

“It would have gone on to do much more damage, destroying the homes of wild animals and claiming the lives of wildlife creatures, such as birds and red squirrels.

“One thing that was very obvious from the visit was the level of growth of the heather, grass and bracken, plants that are very easy to burn.

“This would have been the equivalent of adding fuel to the fire as the plants would have been extremely dry with the recent sunny weather and when the fire took off, it quickly became very difficult to control.

“This reinforces the importance of managing hills with livestock and having appropriate fire breaks.”

Mr Chestnutt said the UFU will be meeting with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, the National Trust, which owns a large part of the land that was burned by the wildfire, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.