Countryside organisations have welcomed ministerial acknowledgement of moorland management’s role in helping to prevent wildfires.
The Countryside Alliance, Moorland Association and National Gamekeepers’ Organisation have welcomed the Government’s recognition of the role of controlled heather burning in responsible moorland management to minimise the risk of uncontrollable wildfires.
In response to a written parliamentary question from Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick upon Tweed, the Defra Minister, Dr. Therese Coffey, noted that burning in accordance with the law and the Heather and Grass Burning Code can help to reduce fire risk.
She also recognised the work being done by moor owners and managers to work with the Government to restore peatland.
Preventing wildfires
Controlled burning reduces the fuel load and encourages healthy heather, benefiting wildlife without damaging the underlying peat.
Jack Knott, Countryside Alliance campaign for shooting, said: “There is a lot of misunderstanding about the use of burning in the management of heather moorland and it is very welcome that the Government has explicitly recognised the part that burning has to play in responsible management in reducing the risk of uncontrolled fires.
We must have a serious look at the terrible fires we have seen this summer and do all we can to prevent them in the future.
“There also needs to be wider recognition of the enormous amount of work being done to restore peat bog by moor owners, managers and others working with the Government to achieve sustainable and resilient moorland.”
Restoring blanket bog
Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association, said: “We have been working closely with Natural England to implement the Blanket Bog Restoration Strategy using guidance developed by the Uplands Management Group that prioritises revegetation of bare peat, restoration of hydrological function and sustainable vegetation management whilst reducing the risk of wildfire.
“Restored, functioning blanket bog will be more resilient to wildfire. Saturated peat is less likely to burn, and waterlogged conditions will reduce the growth of vegetation on the peat surface so there is less flammable material.
“In the longer term, there is a need for balance between peatland restoration and wildfire mitigation which in practice means the use of controlled burning to introduce strategic wildfire breaks and reduce fuel loads. Developing sustainable and resilient moorland habitats capable of withstanding both catastrophic incidents and other climate-related environmental change is imperative.”
Richard Bailey of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisations said it had been “heartbreaking” to see the remains of dead and burnt wildlife caused by wildfires.
“Although we welcome this statement, I just hope that Government is as good as its word,” he said.
“With climate change becoming an increasing worry, it is crucial that we are able to use our expertise to manage our moors in a way that creates proper firebreaks. These are essential to prevent these catastrophic wildfires in the future.”
