Pictures show damage caused by wildfires at Dunwich Heath

A split screen image showing before and after images. The before image on the left hand side shows pink heather and has text overlaid on it. The text reads: This time last week, Dunwich Heath looked like this. Its patchwork of pink and purple heather was in snow and the heath was alive with butterflies, bees, moths, lizards, slow worms and so much more. The after image on the right hand side shows large branches blackened with smoke and ash on the ground. It has overlaid text which reads: This is what it looks like now. — Image caption,
The trust released these before and after pictures to show the damage done by the fire

6 August 2026

The National Trust has launched a fundraising page to help restore Dunwich Heath, following a huge wildfire.

The fire broke out on Wednesday 29th July and shortly after a major incident was declared "due to the size and complexity" of the fire.

Dunwick Heath is an area of heath, grassland, woodland, wetland, beach and cliffs on the Suffolk coast which provides a habitat for a diverse range of species.

The trust says the area is home to nightjars, Dartford warblers, adders, common lizards and rare heathland insects.

Firefighters tackling large wildfire in Suffolk

The heath is one of the UK's rarest lowland habitats and an estimated 92% of it has been lost in England over the last 120 years.

The trust's appeal has so far raised £350,000, with organisers aiming to raise £500,000 in total.

Firefighters said that 371 acres of heathland - the equivalent of approximately 210 football pitches - have been burned by the fire, which was attended by 600 firefighters from every fire station in Suffolk.

Firecrews from Essex, Norfolk, London, West Yorkshire, East Sussex, Surrey and Northamptonshire were also sent to help.

White coastguard cottages at Dunwich surrounded by charred black ground from the wildfire. Fire engines and cars are parked next to them. — Image caption,
Firefighters fought to save the Coastguard Cottages at the site

Hilary McGrady, director-general of the National Trust, said: "This beautiful purple landscape, once filled with the sound of warblers and skylarks and people enjoying a walk through the heather, is now unrecognisable."

"A place loved for its sweeping purple heather and rare wildlife has been left scarred almost beyond recognition."

She added that it would require at least two years of "intensive work" to begin recovering.

The trust has also urged people to stay away from the site while crews continue to tackle hotspots and monitor any fire under the surface.

A firefighter walks through the charred remains of vegetation and plants on the black ground. — Image caption,
Firefighters are still keeping watch the area in case of any new outbreaks

This isn't the fire time the heath has faced challenging conditions, after suffering from extreme heat and drought in 2022.

Since then had been showing "remarkable signs of recovery" but Hilary said that "now that progress has been burnt away" and that "we need your help to re-build what has been lost".

She added: "Moments like this bring reality into focus – the impacts of climate change are exceeding original predictions – and we must respond.

"We must be able to plan for a different future and start adapting today."