I am deeply disappointed that the Government has confirmed it will not provide specific financial support to farmers and businesses devastated by the recent wildfires on the North York Moors.
I have written to the Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds, urging an urgent rethink after Ministers admitted in response to my Parliamentary Questions that they have made no assessment of creating a wildfire recovery scheme similar to the Flood Recovery Framework.
Following the catastrophic fire at Fylingdales Moor - part of what has already been described as a severe 2025 wildfire season, with reports suggesting costs to the economy of over £460 million - I asked what support would be available to those affected. The answer was stark. The Government says the Flood Recovery Framework is “unique to flooding” and that no equivalent has been considered for wildfires. Instead, affected landowners have been pointed towards long-term schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, which offer no immediate emergency relief for fire damage.
Farmers, gamekeepers and graziers were among the first responders during these fires. They used their own machinery, equipment and manpower to protect the moors, often at significant personal cost and risk. For the Government now to turn around and say there is no support available is a slap in the face.
If this devastation had been caused by water rather than fire, the Flood Recovery Framework would likely have been triggered, providing grants and business rate relief. Because it was fire, rural communities are being told they are on their own.
I have called on the Secretary of State to establish a dedicated Wildfire Recovery Fund. These farmers are the stewards of our National Park. They cannot be left to foot the bill for a natural disaster they helped to fight.
I have also highlighted that farmers in Scotland have had access to grant funding for those assisting firefighting efforts, while no such support has been offered in England. This disparity is unfair and must be addressed.
