A fire in the Rhinogydd mountains in Gwynedd started on the Harlech side of the range, before spreading towards Trawsfynydd
The fire burned for nearly two weeks, before eventually being doused by a specialist helicopter, and rain
When a wildfire broke out near the Sychnant Pass in Conwy in July, it triggered a major incident
Villagers in nearby Capelulo were evacuated as the fire spread across more than 200 acres
The Pensychnant Conservation Centre in Conwy saw about one-third of its 150 acres burnt out, and could take "decades" to recover
It could be hundreds of years before habitats destroyed by wildfires in Wales recover, an environment watchdog has said.
Nick Thomas, from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), said if soil had been incinerated in upland areas rich in peat, which grows at about a millimetre a year, it could take centuries for the vegetation to come back.
He called 2026 the worst year Wales had ever experienced.
As well as damage to natural habitats and animal life, Thomas warned loss of soil could increase flood risks, because it no longer acted as a "sponge" holding water on high ground.
Wales has witnessed huge wildfires this summer, including one major incident and the evacuation of a village in Conwy county.
In the Rhinogydd mountain range in Gwynedd, which is home to a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation, a blaze burned for nearly two weeks and affected over 2,000 acres.
Meanwhile, a fire in Blaenavon, Torfaen, could be smelt as far away as Cardiff.
Although fewer wildfires were reported in the second half of July in England and Wales compared with 2025, Thomas said: "This year seems to have been worse, I would say, than any of the ones I can remember.
"I would expect this to probably be the worst year for wildfires perhaps we've ever had."
While some areas will recover quite quickly – potentially within a couple of years – he said: "It all depends on how deep the fire goes.
