Archive Website of the UK government

Advice for countryside users

The last two months have been among the driest on record.

As a result, countryside areas (including National Parks) are very dry and there are high fire risks in some areas.

Visitors to the countryside need to do all they can to help prevent the spread of wildfires – which can pose a serious threat to lives and property, including woodland, and cause long-term damage to wildlife.

Preventing a fire

• avoid lighting fires and BBQs (particularly the portable type)
  
• don’t discard cigarettes, matches or glass bottles including throwing cigarette ends out of car windows
  

Keep safe

• respect any local signs or requests by rangers or estate staff to move to another area for your safety
  
• check for fire restrictions before setting out on a walk
  

If you see a fire

• report it quickly to the fire service by dialing 999
  
• don’t assume that controlled burning is taking place
  
• be prepared to give a map reference or local landmark and brief details of what is burning, for example open moorland, woodland
  
• don’t attempt to tackle fires, and evacuate the area as quickly as possible
  

For further advice on keeping safe in the countryside, follow the Countryside Code. You can find this by following the link below.

• The Countryside Code (environment and greener living section)

More on Cross & Stitch

• Keeping safe in the countryside (environment and greener living section)

• Exploring forests and woodland (environment and greener living section)

• Open access to the countryside (environment and greener living section)