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Wildfires
Latest news, advice and opinion on wildfires in the UK.


"There Will Be Fatalities Unless the Prime Minister Acts" — Lord Botham on Defra and the Wildfire Crisis
Writing in The Telegraph, Lord Botham has delivered a blunt assessment of England's worsening wildfire season and the policy decisions behind it.

Rob Beeson
2 days ago1 min read


Protecting the Uplands from Wildfire: Our Letter to the Prime Minister
The Moorland Association has written to the Prime Minister on upland fuel loads and wildfire risk. Read our letter and provisional fuel load model.

Andrew Gilruth
2 days ago1 min read


"Never drained" and "immune to fire"? The New Forest is neither: our Letter to The Spectator
The Moorland Association responds to Ben Goldsmith's Spectator claim that rewilding beats wildfire. The New Forest was drained, is managed, and still burns.

Andrew Gilruth
2 days ago1 min read


Portugal Built a National Wildfire Agency. Britain Still Has No Strategy
Portugal built an integrated wildfire agency after its 2017 fires. Britain responds ably but has no national strategy — the job is split across departments.

Rob Beeson
3 days ago4 min read


A Welcome Shift from Natural England on Wildfire - Now Policy Must Follow
Explore how Natural England's shift on wildfire prevention emphasizes vegetation fuel reduction. Discover why policy must follow this crucial step.

Andrew Gilruth
4 days ago8 min read


Rewetting Protects the Peat. Controlled Burning Protects the Moor
A moorland fire is really two fires. Why rewetting and managing the fuel solve two different problems — and why the uplands need both.

Rob Beeson
7 days ago5 min read


Why Grass and Heather Moors Burn Differently
A study of 206 wildfires in England and Wales finds grass moors burn biggest, heather hottest, and managed burning keeps fires smaller.

Rob Beeson
Aug 53 min read


Vegetation Is the One Wildfire Factor We Can Control: Our Letter to The Telegraph
Vegetation is the one wildfire factor land managers can control. The Moorland Association calls for an evidence-led look at how conservation landscapes are managed.

Andrew Gilruth
Aug 51 min read


Wildfire CROW Access Restrictions: Latest Update
Natural England confirms outline fire-prevention directions can be sought before FSI level 5 — but the MA is pressing for a national CROW review.

Andrew Gilruth
Aug 36 min read


The Fire Next Door: Wildfire Risk No Longer Stops at the Edge of the Moor
Wildfire no longer stops at the moor. Nearly 50,000 London homes sit in the danger zone — and Britain hasn't built, planned or insured for it.

Rob Beeson
Jul 314 min read


VIDEO: Controlled Burning Explained in Under 3 Minutes
Watch Moorland Association member George Winn-Darley explain how controlled burning helps regenerate the landscape and reduce the risk of wildfire.

Rob Beeson
Jul 291 min read


National Trust for Scotland Adopts Moorland Association Wildfire Training Course
The Moorland Association’s free wildfire training course is now trusted by the National Trust for Scotland. It takes under an hour and is open to everyone.

Rob Beeson
Jul 283 min read
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