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Park woodland damaged by arson, fire service says

Sonia Kataria
BBC News, East Midlands
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Wildfire at Brierley Forest Park in Sutton in Ashfield, NottinghamshireNottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
The fire service believes the blaze at Brierley Forest Park was started deliberately

A large woodland fire described by crews as "senseless" and "heartbreaking" is thought to have been started deliberately.

Fire crews and wildlife specialists were called out to Brierley Forest Park, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, during the early hours.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said an area of forest, undergrowth and woodland had been damaged.

"A beautiful forest has been damaged," it added. "Wildlife habitat has been destroyed."

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Wildfire at Brierley Forest Park in Sutton in Ashfield, NottinghamshireNottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
Six appliances and wildlife specialists attended the fire, near the Oval entrance to the park, in the early hours

On a social media post, it said: "This is not just senseless - it's heartbreaking.

"A beautiful forest has been damaged. Wildlife habitat has been destroyed.

"And the cost, both environmental and financial, is huge."

The fire service urged anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or have any idea who might be responsible to contact police.

The park - on the site of Sutton Colliery, which closed in 1989 - was created in 1992.

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