Deepest gratitude to the emergency services and particularly the fire fighters who responded so quickly to the woodland fire that occurred in a 600 metre area behind the Happy Cheese pub at Ashurst last night.

Fortunately, it seems that fire has been contained although there is always a risk of it breaking out again.

Large fires in the New Forest are unusual. Normally, the vegetation is damp enough not to set alight or spread easily. However, we have had an alarmingly long dry spell this summer as we witness the local impacts of climate change.