CHOBHAM COMMON NNR - Surrey Wildlife Trust

Fire prevention
Uncontrolled fires are a serious threat to public safety and the high conservation
value of Chobham Common.
Uncontrolled fires are a potentially serious risk to visitors to the Common, fire fighters
and road users, particularly on the busy M3 Motorway (Surrey Community Risk
Register 2005).
Frequent and extensive fires can lead to under representation of mature stands of
dwarf shrubs and the loss of species dependent on old growth including specialized
invertebrates (Bell, Wheater & Cullen, 2001), sand lizards (Corbett, 1994) and
Dartford warbler (Bibby, 1977; Bibby, 1979). Frequent extensive fires result in large
areas of even age vegetation, loss of structural mosaic, and fragmentation of old
growth stands (Moore, 1962).
Uncontrolled fires can lead to an increase in scrub and bracken invasion (Bullock &
Webb, 1995). Severe fires destroy viable Calluna seed banks and kill stem bases
(Legg, Maltby & Proctor, 1992) and may cause slow or incomplete vegetation
recovery (Maltby, Legg & Proctor, 1990). Grass and moss cover that develops after
uncontrolled fires may delay or inhibit restoration of heathland (Clement & Touffet,
1990; Gloaguen, 1990); this is a particular concern given the increase in Molinia
caerulea that can be caused by nitrogen deposition (Tomassen et al., 2004). Large
and intensive fires and frequent fires can increase the invasive spread and frequency
of Molina caerulea on dry heaths and the presence of Molinia caerulea can increase
the probability of more frequent fires (Brys, Jacquemyn & De Blust, 2005).
Ensuring that the frequency and scale of uncontrolled fires is kept to a minimum
should be a high priority. The presence of rangers and trained volunteers on site
during periods of high fire risk acts as a deterrent to the arsonists that, rangers and
the Surrey Fire Service believe, are responsible for most uncontrolled fires. This onsite
presence also ensures that the fire service is contacted promptly and given
accurate information when fires occur, that appliances can be lead to the fire site and
that small fires can be contained until the fire service arrives. It is therefore important
that rangers or trained volunteers are on site during periods of high fire risk and that
rangers are trained and equipped to contain small fires and in the use of the Fire
Fogging System. Close liaison with Surrey Fire Service is important, in order to make
them aware of the importance of Chobham Common and familiar with the site and to
allow them to advise SWT on fire prevention and fire access issues.
The maintenance, improvement and extension of the existing network of fire access
routes, internal fire breaks and fire access points is a key part of fire prevention as is
the breaking up of large blocks of European gorse. Roadside firebreaks are of great
importance as fires often start from the roadside, these can either be mown roadside
breaks where roads cross the more open parts of the Common or roadside strips of
broad-leaved woodland in other areas. The railway line that forms the northern
boundary of the NNR is also an area where fires have started in the past and the
maintenance of the firebreak that runs parallel with the railway should continue.
Controlled fires and grazing are also potential mechanisms to help reduce fire risk by
suppressing Molinia and bracken thatch.
2.2.5. Heathland and mire habitat management
Scrub management
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