The RSPB has launched an emergency appeal to restore a reserve in Suffolk after it suffered “severe” damage from wildfires.
The “biggest blaze in living memory” tore through RSPB Minsmere at the end of the last month, the charity said.
An RSPB spokesperson said: “The blaze has tragically decimated the largest area of heathland on the RSPB reserve, totalling approximately 30 hectares (or about 40 football pitches).”
The spokesperson said that while many birds were able to escape the flames, the habitats they rely on had been severely damaged.
“Conservationists fear the long-term impact on species including Dartford warbler, woodlark and nightjar, while slower-moving wildlife such as adders, invertebrates and rare butterflies may have suffered significant losses,” the charity said in a statement.
It comes after the National Trust launched an emergency appeal to restore its neighbouring Dunwich Heath site, which was severely damaged in the same blaze.
Some areas of mature heather, which took more than 20 years to establish, have been destroyed. The RSPB estimates that full recovery could take up to 25 years.
Adam Rowlands, Suffolk area manager for the RSPB, said: “This is the biggest blaze we’ve seen at Minsmere in living memory, which has been hugely consequential for the local wildlife.
“The scale of the damage is heartbreaking. Recovery will take decades, not years.
“But Minsmere has an incredible track record of habitat restoration, and, with public support, we can now begin helping nature recover.
“We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support and offers of help over the past two weeks, and we are incredibly grateful.
“Now we urgently need people’s support – the quicker we can raise the funds needed, the sooner we can start restoring this precious landscape and giving wildlife the best chance of recovery.”
The fire has now been stabilised and its status as a “major incident” has been stood down, but the fire incident remains ongoing.
The downgrading of the incident and reopening of some roads in the area has allowed the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve to reopen to the public after a 12-day closure.
Asked to confirm the target for its fundraising appeal, the RSPB spokesperson said it was too early to assess how much the recovery effort would cost.