Sphagnum Moss

There is no robust data to support the claim that prescribed heather burning reduces Sphagnum abundance and peat formation, and in fact, several datasets reject it.

Rewetting is a crucial piece of the puzzle for peatland wildfire mitigation, but on its own it rarely provides a sufficient safeguard against the complex, multifactorial threat of wildfires in a changing climate.

Geoff Eyre's images confirm what scientific studies have found - that controlled burning can increase moss cover.

These frequently asked questions are taken from the scientific paper: Post-burning responses by vegetation on blanket peat sites on a Scottish grouse moor.

Controlled burning of heather on UK moorlands is often used to support red grouse management, but its effects on peatland health are frequently questioned.

Below are some frequently asked questions concerning the use of sphagnum moss in moorland conservation, explaining some of the key issues...

The current approach to moorland management, particularly the mandated sphagnum inoculation, is not achieving its intended conservation goal