Large swathes of moorland were reduced to charred earth as fires ripped across the Winter Hill area. Fires burned for more than 40 days and destroyed whole ecosystems. With lockdown restrictions easing - and people eager to take advantage of allowed outdoor gatherings and the upcoming summer - the Smithills Estate is keen to do it all it can to protect its vast 1,700 acre land from the dry weather. Tracey Garrett, general manager at Smithills Estate Woodland Trust, said: “We have been working with a lot of different groups and organisations, including United Utilities and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to encourage people to get out on the moors so that we can stop problems before they start.
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