Nature to return to blaze hit Holme Fen Reserve - but visitors urged to stay away from fire site
Wildlife 'is returning' to Holme Fen Nature Reserve after it was hit by a devastating fire this summer, it has been revealed.
A huge fire fighting operation was launched to tackle the fire in August, when flames caused heartbreaking damage and destruction to the ancient reserve.
Countless trees were felled in the disaster, destroying the habitats of creatures that make their home in the ancient woodland.
Holme Fen is home to a variety of wildlife species throughout the year.
The meres have islands and shallow banks which encourage birds, dragonflies and marsh plants including over 500 types of fungi, enabling the reserve to be designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
More than 100 firefighters were at the scene of the blaze at its peak, with crews travelling from as far as Devon, Durham and Merseyside to help tackle the flames.
The operation, which lasted a month, is set to cost around three quarters of a million pounds - and has been described as the biggest ever faced by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Now Natural England have said there is hope for the reserve, as it recovers from the blaze.
A spokesperson said: "We’re working hard to restore the nature that has been lost and make this important site more resilient for the future.
"We’ve removed most of the felled trees and are preparing the land as the first step towards nature recovery and expect nature to return quickly."
While the reserve is open to the public, people are urged to avoid the central area, which was worst hit by the disaster, as there are still some trees at risk of falling.