Cairngorms wildfire recovery project to create new firefighting water ponds

A new wildfire resilience project in the Cairngorms National Park will create or manage between 15 and 20 water ponds that could support firefighting operations while also benefiting wildlife.

Announced on 23 October 2026, the project follows major wildfires that affected thousands of hectares of the national park during the summer.

The initiative will also examine how fire spread through the affected landscape and identify measures that could reduce future risks.

What does the project involve?

The scheme will be delivered in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority and National Parks Partnerships, with funding from telecommunications company VodafoneThree.

It has three principal elements.

The first involves mapping fire damage and assessing how different habitats responded to the summer’s wildfires.

This information will help land managers understand which areas were particularly vulnerable and where fires slowed or stopped.

The second involves developing a network of water ponds across Abernethy and Glenmore.

These ponds are intended to serve two purposes: providing potential water sources for firefighting and creating freshwater habitats.

The third element involves retaining and improving some of the emergency firebreaks created during the summer’s fires.

Rather than simply leaving these areas as cleared ground, the project will seek opportunities to establish plants and habitats that support wildlife.

Technology could improve future responses

Thermal imaging drones were used during the summer’s Cairngorms wildfire to identify hotspots and help direct firefighting activity.

The new partnership will explore whether technology and improved communications could further assist future fire detection and response.

The project forms part of wider efforts to improve wildfire resilience across the UK’s national parks.

What can other communities learn?

The Cairngorms initiative illustrates how landscape management can contribute to emergency preparedness.

Water availability, vegetation management and access routes can all influence firefighting operations.

However, creating firebreaks or water ponds requires appropriate planning, environmental assessment and professional management.

For residents living near wildfire-prone landscapes, the most useful personal precautions remain understanding local risks, following fire service advice and having a plan for leaving safely if an evacuation is required.

Prepper Weekly’s household emergency planning guide includes advice on identifying meeting points, important contacts and essential supplies.