A nature reserve that was devastated by a fire could take up to two years to recover from the damage.
Fire crews worked into the night to tackle the fire on marshland in Parkgate, near Neston, on Saturday, March 19. Just hours after the blaze began Cheshire Police said they were treating the incident as arson.
Three boys, two of them aged 13, the other 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson and have since been released on conditional bail. Aerial footage shows the aftermath of the fire which could be seen from as far away as North Wales.
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The full extent of the damage caused to the marshland has now been assessed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) after it burnt through around 10 hectares of the Neston reedbed, part of its Burton Mere Wetlands reserve.
In an update following the fire, the RSPB said there is "no chance of wildlife successfully nesting" in the area damaged by the fire in the coming months.
They said: "Our reserve team has now assessed the damage caused by Saturday night’s tragic #fire at Neston Reedbed near #Parkgate. About 10 hectares of the marsh was burnt in the fire, including all the reedbed vegetation and some areas of saltmarsh vegetation.
"While we’re hopeful the root systems have survived, and that the reeds will grow back over the coming years, there is no chance of wildlife successfully nesting in those areas in the coming months. It will be a year or two at the earliest before this area can once again support breeding birds like bearded tits, Cetti’s warblers and marsh harriers.
"Please help us to give wildlife alternative nesting space on the rest of the estuary by sticking to paths and keeping dogs on short leads and under close control. We’d again like to thank the emergency services for their work helping to tackle and investigate the fire, and the local community for the incredible support our team has received in person and on social media.
"We’re also asking that anyone with information that could help with the police investigation contact Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 1226437, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
