The county’s largest nature conservation charity has called in the use of helicopters to help the recovery of land at The Roaches following the large moorland fire at the reserve earlier this year.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is using the helicopters and blocking artificial drainage ditches to hold more water back on the peatland which will help the restoration of the moorland.

Earlier this year, the large fire caused devastation to habitats and wildlife at the reserve, near Leek.

Fire crews worked day and night to get the fire under control throughout August.

Since the fire, the Trust has been working into restoring the land at the reserve to its former glory.

Jon Rowe, Roaches Warden, said: “The helicopters will allow us to carry out this work quickly and effectively. It is hoped that by creating the mini dams on the land which was damaged it will help plants in the area to recover more quickly which will in turn be of huge benefit to wildlife.

“Following the fire, the support we received by so many people and groups was phenomenal. We have really felt the support of the local community which helped us so much during what was a difficult time for the Trust.

“The community really pulled together to help us manage such difficult circumstances and we all want to say thank you to those who have shown their support to us.”

People can still donate to the Trust’s appeal to raise money for additional firefighting equipment by donating here www.justgiving.com/fundraising/roaches-fire