Some new measures have now been introduced at one of Greater Manchester’s most popular beauty spots ahead of the summer in attempts to cut the risk of wildfires.
Every year, as the summer sets in and the temperatures start to rise, Dovestone Reservoir often sees people flock to make the most of what the bordering picturesque Peak District landscape has to offer – but this has sadly meant that the area has been hit by several devastating wildfires as of late.
This has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and has destroyed precious habitats.
While a public space protection order may currently be in place to stop any BBQs, campfires, and fireworks from being lit, the RSPB and landowners United Utilities have decided to go one step further this year to prevent catastrophe.
The RSPB has been given a grant by the Nature for Climate fund, and this has allowed for two seasonal fire rangers to be employed at Dovestones, who’s job it will be to help raise awareness of wildfires and their devastating consequences.
Over the summer months, the new fire rangers will patrol Dovestone Reservoir and the Longdendale Valley to watch out for any fires, report what they deem to be suspicious activity, and pick up litter, as well as remind visitors about the public space protection order and the fact BBQs, campfires, and fireworks are all banned from the site.
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Dovestone Reservoir has been hit by several devastating wildfires as of late, including one already in March 2022 / Credit: RSPB Dovestone (via Twitter)
Anyone found to be breaching this order risks a large fine, or even prosecution if their actions lead to a wildfire.
Not only that, but the rangers will also conduct an outreach programme in schools and the local community to help visitors understand what they can do to prevent them.
Oldham Council, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMRFS), and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are all working alongside the RSPB and United Utilities to protect the moorland over the next few months as the wildfire risk increases, and just like the rangers, one of the main things they will be doing is making sure people are aware of the public space protection order in place.
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“Even a small wildfire can cause a huge amount of damage and destruction to the local environment and wildlife and they also take up significant time and resources for our crews to respond to,” said Jim Willmott – Group Manager for Bury, Oldham and Rochdale at GMFRS.
“I’d like to remind people to protect our moors and never light a barbecue or fire of any kind in the countryside.”
Are you celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this weekend? If you decide to visit our countryside parks and reservoirs, please make sure to keep safe and don’t start fires or take BBQs. Thank you!💚 #BeMoorAware#KeepSafepic.twitter.com/jupqx2DVFi
— United Utilities (@unitedutilities) June 1, 2022
GMP will be carrying out dedicated patrols in the Dovestones area in Greenfield to help raise awareness and deal with any breaches of the order.
Local primary and secondary schools have been given assemblies about the risks of wildfires and how they can be prevented, with a competition taking place for primary school students to design signs for the area telling people about the dangers of fires.
The RSPB is also looking for volunteers to help with fire watch.
“When it comes to wildfire prevention we all have a role to play and no one organisation is doing this single-handedly,” said Miriam Biran – Visitor Experience Manager at the RSPB.
Teen sentenced after deliberately driving into a female police officer in Stockport
Emily Sergeant
A teen who deliberately drove into a female police officer at a retail park Stockport earlier this year has been sentenced.
Harvey Bell was at a retail park on Wilmslow Road in Cheadle back on 25 January 2025 when he seriously injured a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer during a shocking incident – which left the officer requiring hospital treatment.
At the time, the 19-year-old from Knutsford was present while police were investigating reports of class C drug use in a car park.
Police parked in front of an Audi and the officer signalled for Bell to remain stationary and turn the engine off, but instead he reversed, and as the officer approached the front windscreen, Bell drove at the officer, knocking her to the ground.
He then proceeded to drive over her legs with both sets of wheels, before heading out of the car park at speed.
#JAILED | A man who deliberately drove into a police officer in Stockport has been jailed.
Harvey Bell (12/08/2005) has been sentenced to 31 months in a Young Offenders Institute and was disqualified from driving for two years.
— Stockport Police (GMP) (@GMPStockport) June 4, 2025
Bell was subsequently arrested the following day and made no comment in his police interview, but then went on to plead guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, as well as possession of cannabis on 27 March 2025.
The teen appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to 31 months in a Young Offenders Institute, and was also disqualified from driving for two years – which will take effect when he is released.
“What [Bell] did to me is permanently in the back of my mind, every call I go to, I feel the apprehension, the fear that any incident, no matter how innocuous it appears, can end with being assaulted or hurt,” the officer explained in a powerful victim impact statement read in court.
“This is an unseen result of Bell’s assault on me.”
She continued: “I know that Bell’s abhorrent behaviour is an exception, and the majority of the public we serve do not wish us harm, but assaults on police need to stop. An attack on a police officer is an attack on us all.
“Bell is a danger to society and had total disregard for my life.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
IKEA announces decision to close popular Greater Manchester site
Emily Sergeant
It’s the end of the road for one of IKEA’s popular Greater Manchester sites.
The Swedish furniture giant has announced its decision to close its ‘Plan and Order Point’ over in Stockport in a couple of weeks time.
The store – which is located in Stockport town centre’s Merseyway Shopping Centre – launched to huge success back in March 2023, and at the time, was the second of this ‘test and trial’ format to open in the UK, becoming a smaller space dedicated to kitchen and home planning, as well as ordering items.
IKEA says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ which plan to take this conceptual format in a direction to ‘better suit the needs of UK customers’.
IKEA is closing its close popular Stockport site this month / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
Since the opening of the Stockport Plan and Order Point, IKEA claims it has seen an increased demand for Click and Collect services, a desire by customers to shop a smaller selection of home furnishing accessories, as well as the ability to return goods to physical IKEA units, and this is all something which the current location is unable to offer.
Learning from this change in consumer habits, the company says its future Plan and Order Point openings – including in those in other northern cities like Hull and York – will offer these services.
IKEA says it also remains ‘committed’ to trialling new formats, such as its upcoming small stores, one of which will open in nearby Chester later this year.
Luckily for IKEA fans, the retailer has confirmed that its major Greater Manchester store in Ashton-under-Lyne, as well as the neighbouring store in Warrington, will remain open as normal, offering all the services available at Stockport and more.
The Swedish furniture says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ about customer needs / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
In addition to the upcoming opening of a smaller store in Chester, IKEA has revealed that the North West continues to be an area of interest for future expansion.
“After careful evaluation, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the IKEA Plan and Order Point at Merseyway Shopping Centre,” explained Salma Azad, who is one of IKEA’s Area Managers.
“In the two years since opening, we’ve taken valuable learnings, including how our customers prefer to meet IKEA, and we’ll take these insights into future openings, to serve shoppers in a more impactful way.”
Thanks to last year’s Click and Collect expansion, Stockport residents can now pick up purchases from Tesco Extra Stockport and Tesco Extra Stretford, as well as the Manchester store and the upcoming small store in Chester.
Stockport Plan and Order Point’s final day of trading will be on 16 June.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd June 2022 
