Keep our countryside safe as the temperature rises say rangers

Rangers at Shropshire’s countryside locations are urging people to stay safe and protect our parks and outdoor spaces as temperatures soar.

In the summer, dry vegetation creates an added risk of a fire starting in the countryside. Every year fire destroys thousands of acres of countryside and wildlife habitats. Some fires are started deliberately, but most are due to carelessness.

Rangers are reminding visitors to stick to the rules of the Countryside Code to make sure they are safe and our sites are protected.

Visitors are being urged to follow these tips to reduce the chance of a wildfire:-

• Extinguish cigarettes properly and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground
• Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows
• Don’t leave bottles or glass in woodland – sunlight shining through glass can start fires (take them home and recycle them)
• Take your litter home
• Only use barbecues in a suitable and safe area and never leave them unattended
• Avoid using open fires in the countryside. Always have them in safe designated areas
• If you see a fire in the countryside, ring 999 and report it to the Fire and Rescue Service immediately
• Don’t attempt to tackle fires that can’t be put out with a bucket of water – leave the area as quickly as possible.

Pete Banford, Shropshire Council’s culture and communities manager, said: “Our rangers are working hard to make sure visitors can enjoy our beautiful parks and open spaces, but it important that people play their part and act responsibly.

“The Countryside Code applies to all parts of the countryside. Most of it is just good common sense, designed to help us all to respect, protect and enjoy our parks and open spaces.”

The Code, updated in 2012, makes it clear what the responsibilities are for both the public and the people who manage the land. It has information about rights, responsibilities and liabilities and how we all have a duty to protect the countryside. Together with common sense, it helps to make it easy for visitors to act responsibly and identify possible dangers.