Scientists race to measure wildfire damage to UK soils

The summer of 2026 has brought one of the UK's most severe wildfire seasons in recent years, fueled by extreme heat and exceptionally dry conditions. More than 500 fires were recorded across the country in July alone, affecting agricultural land, moorland, heathland and upland grasslands—landscapes that store carbon, regulate water, reduce flood risk and support some of the UK's most valuable biodiversity.