Controlled Burning

Natural England contradicts its own remit by advising on wildfire risk, inadvertently backing key points in the Moorland Association’s case against burning bans.

A group of moorland scientists in the Future Landscapes Forum say a government proposal to ban prescribed vegetation burning on deep peat risks serious ecological and wildfire consequences.

Some public servants are undermining moorland management and trust in democracy. This blog calls for fairness, accountability, and respect for lived experience.

With the online application tool now live for land managers needing to burn on deep peat, we hosted a meeting on Wednesday 1st October to discuss the licence application process.

Discover the key changes in the Heather and Grass Management Code 2025, from peatland licensing to new rules on burning, cutting, and planning.

A £26m wildfire has scarred the North York Moors, exposing the rising cost of poor land management and the urgent need for science-led prevention.

Peatland management is complex: burning and cutting both carry risks and benefits. Finding balance is key to carbon storage, water, wildlife and rural life.

Natural England denies giving wildfire safety advice in legal letters yet publicly promotes its stance on wildfire risk. Our blog exposes this double standard.

A side-by-side comparison of the York Review and Natural England's Evidence Review on heather burning exposes flaws, revealing bias in how NE present evidence on burning.

A new analysis has exposed serious flaws in Natural England’s official evidence review on prescribed heather burning.

Peatlands store vast carbon, but calling them climate “saviours” is misleading. A new review shows why nuanced, site-specific evidence matters for policy.

A major review finds no solid evidence that prescribed heather burning causes biodiversity loss, highlighting mixed, context-dependent impacts on UK peatlands.