Arson 'damaged habitat for years'

Nearly 30 hectares of habitat on Cadair Idris was damaged

A fire which "decimated" wildlife habitats on Cadair Idris in Snowdonia is thought to have been started deliberately.

The blaze destroyed nearly 30 hectares of trees and heathland at Tan y Gader, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the north of the mountain.

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) said it would take years for the area to recover after April's fire.

Deliberately damaging an SSSI is a criminal offence.

"It will take many years for the area to recover - a generation of young trees were killed and the heathland ruined," said Paul Williams, the CCW senior reserve manager at Cadair Idris.

"This will inevitably have an impact on birds in the area - the merlin, meadow pipit, stonechat and skylark," he added.

Any activities that may have an impact on an SSSI must be discussed with the CCW before being carried out, he said.

Heather burning is allowed between 1 October and 15 April in the uplands, and between 1 November and 31 March in the lowlands.

But any burning on an SSSI must be discussed with the CCW in advance.