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The Mourne Mountain Fires

Martha Kearney visits the Mourne Mountains in County Down to discover how the landscape has been affected by recurrent fires - and what鈥檚 being done to restore it.

The Mourne Mountains in County Down are home to Northern Ireland鈥檚 highest and most dramatic peaks - a landscape often shrouded in cloud and rain. Yet in recent years thousands of fires have broken out across the range, the majority believed to have been started deliberately. Dry weather and hotter summers linked to climate change have made conditions even more hazardous, alongside the degradation of peat bogs and increased soil erosion.

Martha Kearney visits County Down to hear how local people have been affected, including farmer Sam McConnell and mountain rescue volunteers Neville Watson and Alwynne Shannon. She also discovers what is being done to mitigate the devastation, meeting lead ranger James Fisher and wildfire recovery ranger Linus Voksepp from the National Trust to learn about their vital restoration work.

Producer: Eliza Lomas

Release date:

24 minutes

On radio

Thu 19 Feb 2026 15:00

Broadcasts

  • Thu 19 Feb 2026 15:00
  • Sat 21 Feb 2026 06:07

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