Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Costing the Earth

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Fresh ideas from the sharpest minds working toward a cleaner, greener planet

BBC Radio 4 FM

Costing the Earth: Britain in Flames

Britain in Flames

17/04/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, Britain in Flames

Is the UK ready for a new season of wildfires? Tom Heap investigates.

Last spring, huge swathes of the British countryside erupted in flames. Tom Heap investigates the causes of forest and moorland fire and the ideas to predict and fight them.

Last spring huge swathes of the British countryside, from Dorset to the West Highlands erupted in flames. In the wake of a dry winter and drought orders across the south there's a real risk of another year of serious wildfires.

In 'Costing the Earth' Tom Heap investigates the causes of forest and moorland fire and the innovative ideas that could help us predict them, and fight them.

At Crowthorne Forest in Berkshire, site of the most destructive of 2011's fires he meets the young families evacuated from their homes who are now planting saplings that should prove to be more fire-resistant than their charred predecessors. In Northumbria he joins the local fire and rescue service for an exercise designed to test their speed and efficiency in the face of fire. And in the forests of South Wales he finds out why the region is the arson capital of the UK.

Producer: Alasdair Cross.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Costing the Earth

Britain in Flames

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4