RARE wildlife habitats and heathland was severely damaged when a fire ripped through woods destroying around 30 hectares of a nature reserve near Wokingham last Friday.

More than 70 firefighters from Wokingham, Crowthorne, Reading, Camberley and Yateley spent seven hours tackling the blaze at the Wildmoor Heath Nature Reserve, off Sandhurst Road.

Twelve fire engines, two Land Rovers and a helicopter were needed in the battle to control the fierce blaze.

Dry undergrowth and strong winds fuelled 15-foot high flames which devastated the area, jointly owned by Bracknell Forest Borough Council and environmental group Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).

The area is a habitat for rare species of wildlife, but around a fifth of the rare healthland was damaged, said environmental experts.

Fire crews were called to the scene at 1.30pm where they were met by a blaze that was out of control.

Neil Whiteman, leading firefighter at Wokingham fire station, said: “It was very serious because the wind pushed the fire across the area rapidly.

“Thankfully nobody was hurt, although we rounded up four ponies which were taken away in horse boxes.”

Firefighters used two jets and 10 hose reels to bring the blaze under control by around 5pm.

They also needed to return to the site on Saturday morning for a further inspection and to continue dampening down the ground.

The cause of the blaze is unknown, but fire services confirmed that they were not treating it as suspicious.

Sgt Les Howard, of Crowthorne fire station, said: “It was one hell of fire and the heat was incredible.

“It was very difficult to put out because of the high winds and the area now looks like the aftermath of a napalm bomb.”

Motorists were also affected as early evening rush hour traffic was made worse with closures to the A3095 Rackstraw Road, causing long tailbacks.

The roads were reopened at 5pm but the traffic flow did not ease until later in the evening.

Wildmoor Heath Nature Reserve, which includes the Edgbarrow Wood area, is owned and managed by Bracknell Forest Borough Council and BBOWT.

Helen Tranter, head of culture & visual environment at the council, said: “Rangers from the borough council offered assistance to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service during their fire fighting operation.

“Thanks to a fast response from the rescue service, the fire was dealt with relatively quickly and efficiently.

“Rangers are currently assessing the damage to the site with BBOWT to determine the management and repair work required.”

BBOWT said around 20 per cent of rare heathland had been damaged and its staff had been out assessing the exact damage.

BBOWT’s Berkshire reserves officer Martyn Lane said: “It is hard to tell at the moment how much damage has been done to the nature reserve.

“We are particularly concerned about the population of rare sand lizards which were re-introduced to this site in September 2002.

“There is also a colony of silver studded blue butterflies here and we have yet to see if their eggs have been damaged.

“Many nesting birds including the European protected Dartford Warbler could have been affected by the fire due to the loss of valuable habitat.”