Clwydian Range: Visitors urged to swap barbecues for picnics to prevent wildfires
Visitors to the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape are being urged to avoid barbecues, camping stoves, and campfires this summer amid an extreme risk of wildfires. Recent warm weather has left the moorlands highly vulnerable, with open flames strictly forbidden to protect the landscape and public safety.
Popular spots such as Moel Famau, Loggerheads, and Horseshoe Falls are particularly at risk. The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley countryside rangers, working alongside North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, will be visiting key sites throughout the summer to directly inform visitors about the dangers of barbecues and wildfires.
Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “We want every visitor to fully experience the beauty of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, however, our moorlands are incredibly vulnerable right now due to the warm weather recently.
“By making the simple choice to enjoy a picnic and leaving open flames at home, visitors are playing an essential role in keeping our sites safe and enjoyable for all.
“The impact of moorland wildfires goes far beyond the immediate flames. It can leave our landscape scarred for years, release harmful carbon and in the most extreme cases endanger human life.
“I’d like to acknowledge the hard work of our dedicated Clwydian Range and Dee Valley rangers, who are actively deploying fire risk signs and engaging with visitors to highlight these dangers.”
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service supports the Wales Wildfire Board’s #WildfireWise campaign, which encourages everyone to take simple safety precautions when enjoying the outdoors during spring and summer.
The service highlights that dry grass and moorland can ignite rapidly, causing wildfires that destroy thousands of hectares of countryside, open space, and wildlife habitats every year. Between January 2022 and January 2024, fire and rescue services across Wales attended more than 5,000 grassfire incidents, with a significant number occurring in mid and west Wales.
The Wales Wildfire Board brings together government, emergency services, landowners, and communities to manage wildfire risk through partnerships, environmental resilience, and prevention measures.
Visitors are reminded that a little extra care—such as choosing picnics over barbecues—can protect communities, wildlife, and the environment.
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