Volunteers raise fears that youngster is going to be injured after latest fire at Spalding’s Vernatt’s Nature Reserve

The latest in a series of fires at a nature reserve has prompted fears that a youngster is going to be injured by the flames.

Firefighters were called to Vernatt’s Nature Reserve on Wednesday afternoon after a dog walker had spotted flames coming from a bug hotel.

The reserve – which is a short distance away from Spalding’s busy industrial area – has been transformed into a vibrant home for wildlife in recent years. It had previously a grot spot where a man was once photographed defecating.

Pete Boekestyn - who is one of the volunteers behind the transformation – says this is the third fire reported at the reserve in recent weeks and fears that youngsters have been lighting aerosols, after a number of canisters have been found with holes in the side.

He said: “It is such a dangerous game they are playing. I don’t wish anyone any harm but they need to be aware that aerosols can explode and the liquid would be all over them.

“I just think that someone is going to get hurt doing things like that.

“If one of those explodes in the middle of the reserve, they are in the middle of nowhere and they are going to be in trouble.”

Mr Boekestyn says this is the second bug hotel to have been destroyed over the last six weeks with one of the reserve’s 14 bins also been targeted.

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He said that the exterior of the bin had dents in it, which suggested it had been jumped on and that the plastic interior had melted due to a fire.

The bug hotels had been constructed by one of the many volunteers who care for the reserve by litter picking, planting and making other features such as a willow fence.

Mr Boekestyn said: “The idea of a bug hotel is for insects to hibernate for months but it has been completely destroyed and any form of insect life which was in there.

“People will say ‘you are saying it’s kids straight away’ but we know their MO. They cut through the reserve as some would normally use Two Plank Bridge but it is not there (due to the Spalding Western Relief Road construction).

“They have obviously used an accelerant or lighter fuel because if you stick a match in there it wouldn’t have gone up because of the wet weather we have been having.

“This time it was the fire brigade which attended - but next time it could be an ambulance if it goes on their hands or faces.”

The dog walker had used the what3words system to help pinpoint the location for the fire brigade – and this person has been thanked by Mr Boekestyn, who praised them for their vigilance.

Volunteers have become accustomed to reporting issues to the police after the anti-social behaviour in the past.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue say a crew from Spalding Fire Station had attended the fire, which had been put out ‘using water from a backpack’.

A spokesman said: “It was caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials.”

Lincolnshire Police is also appealing for residents who witness anti-social behaviour to contact them by using the 101 number.

A spokesman said: “We have not seen any rise in anti-social behaviour in Spalding. We would again urge that anyone who witnesses such behaviour report to us so we can build a bigger picture on the issues.”

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