High Court Ruling Leaves Wildfire Risks Unresolved

Moorland Association Chief Executive Andrew Gilruth delivering the statement below

Today’s decision is not the end of this debate.

The High Court, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, has today refused permission for the Moorland Association to proceed with a judicial review of Defra’s decision to restrict preventative, controlled burning of heather.

This was a procedural decision only, and one which Moorland Association is considering whether to appeal. Whatever our decision on that, the Court has not ruled on whether Defra’s policy is right, whether it is effective, or whether it is safe.

What this issue has always been about is a simple but vital principle: major land-management policy should not be made by assumption but rather by properly assessing risk. That question has not been resolved.

Our members are seeing fuel loads increase and wildfire seasons lengthen year after year. Fire services and land managers have raised clear concerns.

Yet preventative burning - a long-established tool for managing excess vegetation and reducing wildfire risk - is being restricted without those risks being properly tested or weighed.

Today’s decision does not validate Defra’s approach. It simply means the Court will not examine it further. Responsibility now lies with ministers and with Parliament to justify this policy openly, honestly, and on the basis of evidence.

The Moorland Association will continue to stand up for practical land management, rural livelihoods, and public safety.

This policy debate is far from settled, and we will take it forward where it now belongs - in Parliament and in the public arena.

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