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Signs of life bring hope at Dove Stone, say RSPB

A photograph taken from high in the sky shows a patch of bright lime green emerging from very dark brown patchesNicholas Rodd, RSPB

Photos taken from the sky show how life is returning to badly burned areas in Dove Stone

Signs of new life are appearing at Dove Stone nature reserve, say the charity that looks after the moorland.

Aerial photographs of the area show green shoots emerging from areas where the ground has been burned.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) say this is thanks to restoration work which took place following massive wildfires over the summer.

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Two emergency workers look on at the hills of Dove Stone in the distance where a fire is still smoking and a whole side of the hill has turned black from the fireREUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

The fire at Dove Stone reservoir in July this year burned for more than three weeks

The moorland, which is close to the city of Manchester in England, is a very important habitat for lots of wildlife.

The RSPB say the fire burned through "800 to 1,000 hectares" of moorland.

It burned for more than three weeks, and conservationists were very worried about the damage it would do.

Martin Randall, RSPB Operations Manager for Central and Eastern England, said the moorland "is still on a long journey of recovery", but says there are signs of hope clear in the images.

A photograph shows bright patches of green with smaller areas of dark brown where the fire's damage is still clear to seeNicholas Rodd, RSPB

"These images are incredibly powerful because they show that even in a landscape that has experienced significant damage, there are signs of hope."

The RSPB say they will use the photographs to keep a watchful eye on the progress of recovery.

Working with water utilities company, United Utilities, the charity has been restoring areas of peatland by keeping them wet.

Making dams and helping plants like Sphagnum moss to thrive have helped keep areas moist, and the new plants are important homes and habitat for insects and birds.

How can we stop wildfires?

A firefighter tells us about wildfires and how to stay safe (from 24 July, 2026)

Martin warns climate change will make wildfires more frequent, but says visitors can help prevent wildfires from starting in the first place.

"Simple actions, such as taking litter home, avoiding campfires, BBQs and fireworks, and reporting fires quickly, can make a huge difference in protecting wildlife, habitats and local communities."