Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust was extremely saddened by news of a fire which broke out on the Rowley Hills on the afternoon of Wednesday 29th July that significantly impacted our Portway Hill nature reserve.
Wildlife Trust staff visited Portway Hill after the fire had been extinguished and found the damage to be extensive, with much of the site burnt. Portway Hill is carefully managed by the Trust’s Conservation Officers throughout the year with the support of dedicated volunteers. The site is a local stronghold for stunning Marbled White butterflies. Amongst its rich wildflower meadow bloom scarce plants such as Pyramidal Orchids and Bee Orchids, and there is geology of international importance to be found. Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust staff will work hard to facilitate nature's recovery across the site.
With many landscapes across Birmingham and the Black Country already dry, there is a real risk of wildfire across the region, but everyone can play their part in protecting our precious wildlife and wild spaces by following these simple guidelines:
• never light a fire or disposable barbeque in an outdoor space
• extinguish cigarettes or matches and never throw them onto the ground
• take litter home because discarded bottles and cans can cause fires
• if you spot smoke or flames, make sure you’re safe and dial 999 immediately
