£3 million government funding aids recovery of North York Moors from wildfire damage
Fylingdales Moor restoration seeks to bolster resilience against future fires
Thousands of acres of moorland affected by one of England’s biggest wildfires are being restored with the help of more than £3 million from the government.
A huge swathe of the North York Moors was engulfed by the fire in August and September 2025, which, at its height, covered 10 square miles (25 sq km), and burned for more than six weeks.
The government has announced it is providing up to £3.2 million to the North York Moors National Park to repair 17km of firebreaks on Fylingdales Moor, which were dug to contain the blaze, as well as stabilise damaged slopes.
The cash, which is being provided through the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, will also be used to restore key peatland species, such as sphagnum moss, and reinstate paths across the moors, the government said.
It said the work will help reduce flood risk in the future, protect wildlife habitats and preserve archaeological features.
The fire was close to the RAF Fylingdales early warning station and was declared a national incident due to its proximity to this critical infrastructure.
It was first reported on August 11 and firefighters were called in from all over England in the subsequent weeks, with more than 100 working on the moor at its height, along with volunteers from the farming community.
The fire spread to an old military training range and more than 20 explosions were recorded as the burning detonated old ordnance.
Investigators later found that the wildfire was caused by someone believed to have been cooking using a naked flame, such as a campfire or gas burner, at a remote location.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: “The Fylingdales wildfire was an unprecedented event that caused serious and lasting damage to one of England’s most treasured landscapes.
“This funding will help bring the moorland back to life – restoring the deep peat that stores carbon, supports rare wildlife, and protects communities downstream.
“Resilient, rewetted peatland is our best natural defence against wildfires in the future, and I am determined that this landscape recovers stronger than before.”
North York Moors National Park Authority chief executive Tom Hind said: “Last year’s wildfire brought home the increasing risks that wildfire poses.
“It took a monumental team effort from fire and rescue services, local farmers and land managers and local agencies to extinguish and we remain indebted to them for their commitment.”
Mr Hind said: “Fylingdales Moor is home to a wide variety of rare and precious habitats and wildlife and it’s vital that we not only restore these habitats but build in long-term resilience to climate change.
“This funding is a significant step forward in helping us address the long-term impacts of the Fylingdales Moor wildfire and we’re grateful to the government for recognising both the scale of the damage and the importance of restoring this nationally significant landscape.”
Mr Hind said that the government funding will complement other funding from Anglo American’s Woodsmith and ICL’s Boulby mines, which will support habitat restoration, as well as contributions from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.