An Update on Defra’s Review of The Heather & Grass Burning Code 2007
- Andrew Gilruth
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 7
The Moorland Association was represented at two workshops held by Defra and Natural England in February and March 2025 to start the process of reviewing the Heather & Grass Burning Code 2007.
While the stated aim is to “refresh” the existing Code, it appears that its scope will be extended to include the management of other types of vegetation (including gorse, scrub and reeds) by a variety of methods, including mechanical control, grazing and re-wetting as well as burning.
With the benefit of MA member responses to the survey we conducted in January, we made clear to Defra and Natural England that:
Practitioners generally find the current Code useful
The Code should be updated for current legislation and to reflect current scientific understanding of the impacts of burning and cutting
Concern about wildfire risk and the impact of increasing fuel loads is growing among land managers
The expert local knowledge of experienced moorland keepers and land managers should be recognised
One size does not fit all when it comes to the management of moorland vegetation.
Other bodies represented in the workshops included Forestry Commission, Ministry of Defence, Fire Service, GWCT, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Heather Trust, RSPB, NFU, CLA, BASC, National Sheep Association, Environment Agency, National Trust and several National Parks and National Landscapes.
Natural England aims to produce a draft new Code, with supporting information, by the summer. This will then be reviewed by Defra with the intention of publishing it in the autumn, before the start of the next burning season. There appears to be no current provision for a wider consultation on the draft text over the summer.
The Moorland Association is continuing its wider work on the licensing and consenting process for heather burning and we will publish an update in due course.