Kevin Hollinrake MP has expressed his disappointment after the Government confirmed it will not provide specific financial support to farmers and businesses devastated by the recent wildfires in the North York Moors.
The MP for Thirsk and Malton has written to the Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds, urging an immediate rethink after Ministers admitted in a Parliamentary Question that they have "made no assessment" of establishing a financial recovery scheme for wildfires similar to the one that exists for flooding.
Following the catastrophic fire at Fylingdales Moor, part of a 2025 wildfire season that reports suggest has cost the economy over £460 million, Mr Hollinrake tabled Written Parliamentary Questions.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that the "Flood Recovery Framework is unique to flooding" and that "no assessment has been made" of creating an equivalent for wildfires. Defra Ministers pointed affected landowners toward existing schemes like Countryside Stewardship, which offer no immediate emergency relief for fire damage.
Kevin Hollinrake MP said:
"The farmers, gamekeepers and graziers were some of the first responders during these fires. They used their own machinery, equipment and manpower to protect the moors, often at great personal cost and risk. For the Government to now turn around and say 'there is no support available' is a slap in the face.
"If this devastation had been caused by water, the Flood Recovery Framework would likely have kicked in, providing grants and business rate relief. Because it was fire, our rural communities are being told they are on their own.
"I have written to the Secretary of State to demand a dedicated Wildfire Recovery Fund. These farmers are the stewards of our National Park; they cannot be left to foot the bill for a natural disaster they helped to fight."
In his letter to the Secretary of State, Mr Hollinrake highlighted that while grant funding has been made available in Scotland for those assisting firefighting efforts, no such support has been extended to English farmers, creating a disparity.
In his letter Mr Hollinrake is calling for a dedicated fund to cover:
- Equipment repairs for machinery damaged fighting the flames.
- Land restoration costs for burnt peatland and grazing areas.
- Lost income for farmers unable to use the land for livestock.
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