Nature reserve volunteers counting cost after blaze
Nicola Findlay
Devastated volunteers say their hopes of restoring a popular beauty spot went up in flames after a huge blaze left a trail of destruction.
Twenty firefighters battled for more than four hours to bring the heathland fire under control – but swathes of Langlands Moss have now been left badly charred and the boardwalk has been closed due to extensive fire damage to 150 metres of it.
Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the blaze with police unable to determine whether or not it was started deliberately.
However, police patrols are being stepped up at the Moss, which has been plagued by vandals with benches, plaques, other installations and flora and fauna damaged by small fires.
The Friends of Langlands Moss (FOLM), who operate the nature reserve, were just a day away from replacing a section of boardwalk destroyed by firebugs last June.
A £30,000 fundraising appeal was launched and thanks to grants and donations, work was due to get underway.
But now another huge section of the boardwalk has been destroyed by the latest fire last Tuesday night and FOLM chair Maureen Potter told the News they now face an uphill struggle to repair at least another £40,000 worth of damage.
“We are all absolutely shattered by this,” she said.
“When I actually saw how much damage had been caused by this fire I was just heartbroken.
“Three-quarters of the walkway is now gone and about a third of the Moss is badly burnt. It was a massive fire and to see all our hard work go up in flames is very hard to take.
“We were due to get the contractors in to start the work on replacing the previous section of boardwalk damaged by vandals the day after the fire.
“But with even more damage, we honestly aren’t sure where we will go from here and if we can raise the money needed so soon after our last big fundraising appeal.