Dartmoor plans to rise from ashes

An emergency recovery plan is being prepared for around two square miles of Dartmoor National Park nature reserve devastated by fire a week ago.

The scheme is being funded by the National Grid Company, which is also laying on an aerial survey of the site for English Nature, which owns and manages Trendlebere Down near Bovey Tracey. The Down, a site of special scientific interest, was razed by one of the worst fires in 20 years, and could take 10 years to recover, according to English Nature.

A colony of nationally rare brown fritillary butterflies was destroyed, as well as rare plants. Ten pairs of Dartford Warbler birds were lost. Phil Page of English Nature. the reserve site manager, said: "We shall be working ... to help this site recover as quickly as possible, so that the wildlife can return."