The government has announced up to £3.2 million in funding to restore the North York Moors following last summer's devastating Fylingdales wildfire, despite ongoing frustration over a lack of compensation for affected businesses.
The government is providing up to £3.2 million to the North York Moors National Park Authority to restore peatland and moorland devastated by the unprecedented Fylingdales wildfire in the summer of 2025.
However, Labour and Conservative politicians have criticised the Government for not providing compensation to local businesses, farmers and landowners impacted by the largest wildfire in North Yorkshire’s history, and accused it of abandoning the rural community.
The blaze, which burned for over six weeks between August and September last year, was declared a national incident. An official report indicated the fire began from a campfire and spread undetected through deep peat, causing widespread damage to biodiversity.
The new funding, delivered through the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, will repair 17 kilometres of firebreaks dug to contain the blaze, stabilise damaged slopes, and restore key peatland species.
The government funding will complement additional match funding associated with Anglo American’s Woodsmith and ICL’s Boulby mines, alongside contributions secured from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:
"The Fylingdales wildfire was an unprecedented event that caused serious and lasting damage to one of England’s most treasured landscapes. This funding will help bring the moorland back to life - restoring the deep peat that stores carbon, supports rare wildlife, and protects communities downstream.
"Resilient, rewetted peatland is our best natural defence against wildfires in the future, and I am determined that this landscape recovers stronger than before."
North York Moors National Park Authority Chief Executive Officer Tom Hind said:
"Last year’s wildfire brought home the increasing risks that wildfire poses. It took a monumental team effort from fire and rescue services, local farmers and land managers and local agencies to extinguish and we remain indebted to them for their commitment.
"Fylingdales Moor is home to a wide variety of rare and precious habitats and wildlife and it’s vital that we not only restore these habitats but build in long-term resilience to climate change. This funding is a significant step forward in helping us address the long-term impacts of the Fylingdales Moor wildfire and we’re grateful to Government for recognising both the scale of the damage and the importance of restoring this nationally significant landscape.
"This investment will enable us to begin repairing the extensive firebreaks that were created to contain the blaze, re-establishing peatland habitats, stabilising vulnerable areas and creating a landscape that is better able to withstand the challenges posed by a changing climate."
Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume welcomed the funding but also reiterated her desire to see better compensation schemes in place for future wildfire events.
"This isn't just about repair, it's about rebuilding stronger. The funding will restore peatland, protect wildlife, and reinstate vital paths across the moors.
And whilst I'm delighted that the government is pouring millions into restoration work. Which will help slow down future fires, I'm determined to keep pressing ahead to ensure that next time, and sadly, there will be a next time the area is hit by a devastating wildfire on this scale, the mechanisms will be there to compensate farmers and businesses in the form of grants.
The MP also paid tribute to the many volunteers who helped tackle the blaze.
"The so-called Farm Army showed incredible bravery stepping in to protect their land and communities.
And I've heard some really harrowing stories during my meetings with them, so I'll continue to honour their heroic actions by working behind the scenes and speaking up on their behalf, including ensuring that trusted partners are on a contractor list ahead of time."
Reacting to the funding announcement Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith said:
"Last summer’s wildfire on Fylingdales and Langdale Moor was devastating in its scale, with a significant impact on our environment, local communities and rural economy.
"We welcome this £3.2 million investment from Government, which recognises both the unprecedented nature of the incident and the scale of the recovery challenge. This funding will play a vital role in restoring our peatland, supporting recovery, and helping to build resilience against future wildfires.
"We have worked closely with Government to ensure the scale of this incident and its impact were fully understood, and we will continue to make the case for the long-term support our region needs to recover and adapt to increasing wildfire risks. However, there is still more to do, and I will continue to fight to make sure our county has everything it needs to protect our region from climate change, in the short term and the long term.
"The response to the fire showed the very best of our region, with fire and rescue services, partner agencies, landowners and local communities working together in extraordinary circumstances. That same partnership approach will be essential as we move forward into this next phase of recovery.
"As climate change increases the risk of wildfires, it is more important than ever that we learn lessons, strengthen prevention, and ensure our services are equipped to respond. Preventing future wildfires is everyone’s responsibility, including the choices we make when enjoying these landscapes. We will continue working with Government and partners to protect our communities and safeguard our natural environment for the future."
Despite the environmental funding, central government has previously refused to provide compensation for the local businesses and farmers impacted by the blaze, arguing that a framework only exists for flooding incidents.
Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, whose constituency includes the affected area, welcomed the funding as a “vital step towards restoring our precious moorland after last year’s devastating wildfire”.
The MP has previously said that farms and businesses hit by such fires should receive support similar to that provided for flooding and is hoping to propose legislation on the issue.
The MP says she will continue pressing for a change in the compensation schemes for any future wildfire events:
"I've been working on calling for a government recovery framework for wildfires, like the one currently in place for flooding.
I'm hoping to bring a 10-minute rule bill on that. I know that there has been some talk now of the government not compensating the small number of businesses and farmers from the last file which I'm disappointed about, and I will keep working on this so that the next time and there unfortunately will be a next time when there's a wildfire that there is recovery grant scheme in place for businesses and farmers."
Kevin Hollinrake, the MP for Thirsk and Malton, said:
“The money to restore Fylingdales Moor is welcome and repairing the firebreaks, stabilising the slopes and bringing this precious landscape back to life is badly needed.
“But there is a glaring hole in the government’s announcement. Not a penny is going to the farmers, landowners and businesses who watched their livelihoods burn and who worked alongside our fire and rescue services for six weeks to save the moor. Had this been a flood, the Farming Recovery Fund and the Flood Recovery Framework would have been triggered within days. Because it was a wildfire, the people who suffered the losses are being left with nothing.”
The Conservative MP added:
“Ministers cannot keep treating the land as worth saving while leaving the people who farm it to carry the cost. The government should now put in place a proper wildfire recovery framework so that no rural community is abandoned like this again.”
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