Humberhead Peatlands, a national nature reserve near Doncaster, has announced its closure to visitors on Thursday and Friday, 13 and 14 August 2026. The decision is due to an "exceptional risk" of wildfire as temperatures rise.
Reserve manager Julian Small stated that the Natural England site is at the top level of the Met Office's Fire Severity Index, a situation he has only known once before. The closure is considered essential to protect both nature and visitors.
The reserve, part of the UK's largest lowland peat bogs complex, has previously experienced fire incidents. Several past fires were reportedly caused by barbecues and cigarettes on dry ground. In July, a small area of smouldering peat was discovered, which Mr Small believes was likely caused by a cigarette end dropped onto dry peat.
Mr Small highlighted that wildfires in England are typically caused by people, either accidentally or deliberately. He warned that disposable barbecues are particularly dangerous as their heat can ignite underground peat unnoticed, potentially leading to a significant incident.