An increasing threat of wildfires amid rising temperatures and Met Office warnings could have a “devastating” impact, according to the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.

The Woodland Trust says uncontrollable wildfires put people, wildlife and natural habitats at risk. And with a Met Office amber alert issued in parts of the UK, the Trust has urged visitors to woods, parks and green spaces to stay fire free.

With school holidays fast approaching, the conservation charity is expecting increased numbers of visitors to its more than 1,000 free, public woods across the UK, but says barbecues, campfires and discarded picnic rubbish could spark disaster.