Wildfires

Natural England’s 2025 evidence review on managed burning ignored key findings from the James Hutton Institute, overlooking vital UK data on wildfire risk and fuel load.

Defra’s legislation to treble the land on which prescribed burns are effectively banned creates immense risks to rural lives and livelihoods. We are fighting it with huge energy and on all fronts.

The Moorland Association is taking legal action against Defra’s new burning regulations, warning they increase wildfire danger and put rural lives at risk.

A 2023 James Hutton Institute study shows Scotland’s uplands face rising wildfire risk, with managed burning vital to reduce fuel build-up and protect communities.

George Winn Darley provides a an up close and personal account of the recent wildfires at Langdale Forest and Fylingdales moor.

In a robust column for The Telegraph, Lord Botham has pointed out how the government's new restrictions on heather burning will inevitably lead to more wildfires.

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.

A recent article on the Insurance Business website warns that wildfires are now posing such a severe risk that insurers are reconsidering their exposure and in some cases, pulling back entirely.

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.

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

2025 has been the worst year on record for wildfires in the UK. The data illustrate just how bad. Imagine what the data will look like once the impact of the government's new burning restrictions take hold.