Warning over wildlife and fires after heatwaves

The impact of hot and dry weather on wildlife in a council's parks is causing "great concern", says Warwick District Council.

It added its green spaces team met residents and Cyril Bennis from Swan Rescue, to assess water levels at the lake at Abbey Fields, Kenilworth.

"We are pleased to report that the swans and cygnets are currently looking healthy and have the option to use the nearby brook to stay hydrated if the lake completely dries up," the council said.

It also urged people to help protect parks and open spaces by not lighting barbeques and disposing of cigarettes and rubbish safely. A major incident was declared on Thursday, as fire crews tackled a large fire at Salford Priors.

In Abbey Fields lake, the district council said the lower water levels increased the possibility of wildlife being attacked and it asked that dogs were kept under control around the lake.

Meanwhile, wildlife centres say hedgehogs and owls have been particularly badly affected during a succession of heatwaves, as food and water sources have dried up or disappeared.

Centres asked the public to help wild animals by leaving out water, creating shaded areas in their gardens and clearing access to ponds where water levels have fallen.

At Brandon Marsh in Warwickshire, water levels are extremely low, and one lake has completely dried up.

Karl Curtis, the director of nature reserves for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said it would take months of steady rain to replenish its water systems.

Meanwhile, fires in England and Wales led to a government alert to millions of phones on Friday, warning people not to light anything that could spark a wildfire amid the extreme conditions.

Firefighters were at the scene of the blaze in Tothall Lane, Salford Priors, for several hours and smoke on the carriageway led to the A46 partly closing.

It happened on the day firefighters in the West Midlands tackled multiple blazes, including one in Stourbridge that destroyed 19 homes after it spread rapidly through grass and woodland.

A fundraiser by Heart of England Community Foundation to help families impacted by fires in the region has raised more than £50,000 so far.

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