Swinley forest rare birds at risk

(States Twitter)-Berkshire forest is part of a Special Protection Area (SPA) for three rare birds: the Woodlark, Nightjar and the Dartford Warbler.

Natural England conservation officer Des Sussex said: "The timing is dreadful because a lot of the birds are in the middle of the nesting season.

At Swinley Forest in Bracknell, Berkshire four fires have been raging since Monday evening. Roads in large areas of Bracknell have been closed and the fires are estimated to cover around 200 hectares.

Colin Dudley, vice-chairman of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and a Bracknell Forest borough councillor, said: "We are asking the public to please stay away. It's causing additional problems having to manage onlookers.

Samantha Dawes, conservation manager at the RSPB South East, said: "This is the breeding season for these rare and vulnerable birds, and both species will now be on their nests with eggs or chicks.

A spokesman for the Forestry Commission said the forests had been designed to have natural breaks in but further clearing was being carried out.

Wild fires have also broken out in the Scottish Highlands where 22 firefighters were battling a blaze near Shiel Bridge. A second fire was being fought at Torridon where a crew of nine have been working since Sunday to bring the flames under control.

In Northern Ireland fires have burned for much of the bank holiday weekend in Counties Down, Armagh and Tyrone as hundreds of acres of land have been scorched.