THE National Trust has joined calls urging people not to take barbecues to North Yorkshire’s national parks, amid concerns they could spark wildfires.
The trust, which owns numerous wildlife-rich sites, including Rievalux Terrace, Bridestones and Bransdale and Scarthwood Moor, said there had been a significant rise in people bringing barbecues to the countryside as lockdown eases.
Recent rainfall has not stopped the landscapes from being at fire risk following the record-breaking sunny spring, the conservation organisation said.
Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation at the National Trust, said: “We’re urging people not to bring barbecues to the countryside or the coast.
"They can lead to real problems, particularly after such little rain in April and May.
"Many areas of land are still very dry and all it takes is a single spark from a barbecue or a dropped cigarette to cause a serious fire.”
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