Just a day after local volunteers had spent time and effort cleaning up Acomb Wood, a group of arsonists decided to start a fire in a ‘den’ that had been constructed in the wood. Luckily, a resident living nearby saw what was happening and called the emergency services, who attended.

From the charred remains, it appears that the arsonists were putting canisters on the fire which then exploded.

It is desperately disappointing that some people have such little care or regard for the local environment. In order to reduce the risk of a repeat performance, this den – and any dens subsequently built in the wood – will have to be dismantled.