Claire Hughes MP has thanked firefighters and emergency services for their extraordinary efforts tackling wildfires across North Wales, after visiting Pensychnant Conservation Centre near Conwy and seeing first-hand the damage caused by the recent fire on the Sychnant Pass.
Claire visited Pensychnant over the weekend, travelling across the Sychnant Pass for the first time since the wildfire swept across the surrounding hills.
The conservation centre itself escaped the blaze, but large areas of the surrounding habitat have been badly damaged. Parts of the affected land were still smouldering a week after the fire first broke out, while flames had come frighteningly close to nearby homes.
The fire on the Sychnant Pass was one of several incidents faced by emergency services across North Wales during exceptionally hot and dry conditions, including a significant wildfire at Braichmelyn near Bethesda.
Claire Hughes MP said:
“We’re used to seeing hill fires around here, but this one felt different. The sheer area it covered and the intensity of the fire, made all the worse by the heatwave and drought, was devastating to see.
“Seeing how close the flames came to people’s homes was frightening. Our firefighters did an incredible job on the Sychnant Pass, just as they did at Braichmelyn and elsewhere across North Wales.
“There really are no words to express our gratitude to everyone who has been working in incredibly difficult conditions to keep our communities safe. That includes not only the firefighters themselves, but control room staff, the police, mountain rescue teams and everyone else involved in the response.”
Crews have continued responding to wildfires elsewhere in Wales, with prolonged dry weather leaving vegetation extremely dry and increasing the risk of fires spreading quickly.
Claire said the scale and intensity of the recent fires were also a stark reminder of the consequences of a changing climate for communities in North Wales.
She added:
“Heatwaves like this are becoming more frequent and more intense. Climate change isn’t some distant threat. We can see and feel its effects here in North Wales.
“It threatens our natural environment and biodiversity, but also our homes, our health, our economy and the places we love. At a time when there are loud voices arguing that we should step back from our climate obligations, what we have seen here is another reminder of why we cannot afford to go backwards.”
During her visit, Claire also toured Pensychnant’s annual art exhibition and encouraged people to support the conservation centre. The exhibition is open at weekends until the end of September.
Claire said:
“Pensychnant is a really special place and I’d encourage people to visit if they get the chance. The gardens are beautiful and, as a registered charity, the centre really appreciates the support of visitors.”
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