What local residents think of the fire byelaw
What local residents think of the fire byelaw
We heard from people across the National Park – including gamekeepers, rangers and those who work for local businesses – about what the fire byelaw means to them.
Becki Redmond, Nature Reserve Officer, Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve
I have seen the damage wildfire can do and the time it takes for recovery to begin. Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve is a rare tapestry of habitats that are unique and vital to protect. In a warming climate, wildfires pose a serious threat. Most people value these landscapes and would be devastated to think they caused harm, yet some don't realise how a single spark can trigger far-reaching consequences.
Becki Redmond
Axton Stanton, 13 year old living in Grantown-on-Spey
I want to protect the place I love. I’ve lived in the National Park my whole life. It’s not just somewhere to visit, it's my home. It’s where I first learned to ride a bike, and now my friends and I spend hours trying tricks at the bike park in Anagach Woods. Last summer, when the fires happened, everything felt different. The sky was thick with smoke and it was sad to think my favourite place could be destroyed.
Jodie Hagan
Jess Wise, Visitor Operations Manager, Highland Wildlife Park
A moment’s mistake isn’t worth decades of consequences. We’re seeing the effects of climate change all around us, with longer dry spells and unpredictable rainfall. Since Covid, more people are spending time outdoors, which is great, but not everyone knows how to do so safely and confidently. Wildfires aren’t only caused by campfires; even discarded glass can cause serious damage. We need to raise awareness and help people enjoy nature responsibly. Clear, fair enforcement can protect the special places, species and people here in the National Park.
Highland Wildlife Park
Calum Kippen, Head Keeper, Corrybrough Estate
During high risk warnings as I've seen how wildfires can devastate land and impact local people. Last summer, I helped tackle the wildfires at Dava and Carrbridge. What stays with me is when a distressed man approached us, asking whether his house, miles away, would burn. I’m on the fence about the fire byelaw but I think it will help alongside the range of other measures planned. I’d like to see designated barbecue areas, as seen in other countries, and more information available on how to enjoy the outdoors safely. The new signage also has a critical role to play, reflecting the varying fire risk levels across the vast National Park area.
C. Kippen
Judy Baxter, Cairngorms National Park Authority Ranger
Lots of incredible landscapes, habitats and species are at risk in the Cairngorms. Last summer, everything was so dry, you could smell resin in the pine trees. They smelled vulnerable, flammable. Many people that we speak to think they are having fires in a safe way, but accidents can happen and you can’t always plan for that – we know this from the wildfires we’ve seen in the National Park in the past. The Cairngorms is home to over a quarter of the UK's rare and endangered species. The idea all that might be at risk through wildfire is very scary.
Pete Short