3rd May 2016
THE BBC Countryfile spotlight (10 April) shone on excellent conservation and collaboration work taking place in Northumberland National Park.
The innovative heather burning scheme, supported by the Park, firemen and land managers, who are trained to cope with and prevent wildfires demonstrates how controlled burning can benefit wildlife.
RSPB research has shown that wading birds are up to five times more abundant on moorland managed for red grouse than moorland that does not have heather burning and predator control as part of their management. In fact, golden plover are often found to preferentially nest in the middle of burnt heather patches on grouse moors.
Where there are large blocks of heather dominated moorland, it is desirable to break up the pattern with burning to create firebreaks and reduce the fuel for a wildfire.
This is true even on deep peat –especially dry deep peat which is more susceptible to wildfire and where the damage caused could be at its most severe.
Healthy peatland has an essential part to play in water quality, slowing run-off and trapping carbon. An important tool in achieving this can be ‘restoration burning’, removing the canopy of over-dominant heather to inoculate with Sphagnum – the king of bog plants.
The BBC’s Countryfile programme shows brilliantly how the use of careful burning can support biodiversity and how partnership working can deliver great results. To see the episode in full visit BBC I player. The link will be accessible until 15 May.
