Yesterday evening, a devastating fire occurred on Coatham Marsh Nature Reserve, leaving us shocked and deeply concerned. Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated case, as we have witnessed an alarming increase in fires on nature reserves and other countryside sites within the Tees Valley region, following a worrying national trend. We have strong reason to believe that this fire was started deliberately.
As a charity dedicated to nature, we are appalled by these criminal acts of destruction and are committed to working with local authorities and communities to support us in preventing such incidents from occurring in the future. The consequences of these actions are far-reaching and devastating, not only for the wildlife that calls these reserves home but also for the local communities that enjoy having nature on their doorstep, our volunteers who give their time to protect nature, and our staff team.
We are living in a climate and nature crisis, and it is imperative that those responsible for acts of wildlife crime are held accountable.
We thank the dedicated fire and police officers for their tireless efforts in tackling yesterday’s fire and for the community who have helped report incidents and provide information.
Tom Harman, CEO for Tees Valley Wildlife said:
“The increase in fires on nature reserves is shocking. The impact to wildlife will be extensive, with ground nesting birds and their young unable to escape the flames. Deliberate fires on nature reserve need be treated as the wildlife crimes they are. We welcome any support from local leaders and encourage them to step forward and help tackle these issues together.”
We also urge anyone with information regarding this fire or any other similar incidents to come forward and report it to the police.
