New Research: Combining History and Local Knowledge for Better Moorland Fire Management

Rob Beeson
1 hour ago
3 min read

KEY TAKEAWAY: New research from the Peak District proves that protecting our uplands from devastating wildfires requires respecting the deep ecological history of the landscape and trusting the rural communities who actively manage it.

As climate change brings warmer, drier conditions and prolonged droughts to the UK, the threat of devastating wildfires on our peatlands is growing at an alarming rate.

Parched vegetation and dried-out bogs can quickly become a tinderbox. A new scientific study focused on the Peak District National Park provides fresh, evidence-based insights into how we can protect these vital, carbon-rich landscapes.

The research carries a clear, urgent message: to successfully manage wildfire risk and protect biodiversity, policymakers must look at the deep history of our moorlands and actively listen to the people who work the land every day.

Key Takeaways from the Study

The researchers looked deep into peat soil cores, using fossilized pollen and microscopic charcoal to trace the landscape's history back over 3,000 years across six different sites.

They combined this rich environmental data with in-depth interviews from 14 local stakeholders, including land managers, gamekeepers, conservation bodies, water companies, and fire services.

Here are the most important findings for moorland communities:

Local expertise is vital: The study explicitly states that local knowledge and practitioner experience need to be embedded into environmental policy. Collaborative initiatives - where gamekeepers, landowners, and emergency services work together on the ground - are essential for effective wildfire prevention and response.
Most wildfires are human-caused: Today’s most damaging fires are primarily sparked by human actions, such as recreational campfires, discarded cigarettes, or arson, rather than natural causes or controlled management. When these unmanaged fires break out, they don't just burn surface vegetation; they can ignite the peat itself, releasing thousands of years of stored carbon and severely polluting local drinking water supplies.
Fuel management prevents disaster: Periods of low fire frequency lead to a massive build-up of dead vegetation (fuel load). Without regular management, this thick layer of brush accumulates. When an accidental wildfire does break out in these overgrown areas, it burns significantly hotter and faster, causing deep, destructive damage to the ecosystem and displacing local wildlife.
Managed moorlands show resilience: Sites actively managed using traditional methods, such as Emlin Dike (managed with rotational patch burning for grouse since the 1950s), were found to be highly resilient ecosystems. These managed areas successfully maintain healthy heather cover and recover much faster from environmental disturbances than neglected sites.

A Deep History of Fire

Fire is not a new or unnatural feature of the British uplands. The soil records confirm that fire has continuously shaped the Peak District landscape for thousands of years.

Historically, low-intensity fires and traditional grazing helped maintain a diverse, thriving mix of trees, heather, and mosses. However, the study shows that in recent decades, accidental, high-intensity wildfires have severely damaged unmanaged areas.

For example, at Withens Moor - a degraded site now dominated by thick, highly flammable purple moor grass - recent severe wildfires have pushed the ecosystem past a tipping point. It has lost its resilience, making it incredibly difficult for the landscape to recover naturally. In contrast, actively managed areas have proven much better at bouncing back and retaining their ecological balance.

Why a "One-Size-Fits-All" Approach Fails

Often, environmental policies are handed down from the government without fully considering the complexities and realities on the ground. The researchers noted that top-down policies, such as strict bans on controlled burning, can have severe unintended consequences, such as inadvertently increasing the risk of uncontrollable infernos by allowing fuel to stockpile.

Moorland management is highly complex. The people living and working in these landscapes face the daily challenge of balancing wildlife conservation, water quality, carbon storage, and rural livelihoods, often dealing with layered land rights and public access issues. The research highlights that an integrated, adaptive approach driven by local context works far better than blanket rules.

The Path Forward: Active Land Stewardship

So, how do we protect our peatlands moving forward? The study suggests a blended, practical approach to conservation.

Restoring degraded bogs by rewetting them and encouraging the growth of native Sphagnum moss is crucial for long-term health. Because it acts like a giant sponge, Sphagnum rebuilds the peat structure and keeps the ground wet, inherently reducing fire risk.

However, rewetting alone is not enough; it must be paired with active fuel load management. Using controlled, prescribed burning, vegetation cutting (where terrain allows), and managed livestock grazing are essential tools to clear excess, highly flammable vegetation.

By actively reducing the fuel load, land managers create natural firebreaks that stop accidental wildfires from spreading and destroying vast areas of habitat.

There is no single solution. Protecting our uplands requires a comprehensive toolkit of conservation methods, tailored to the specific needs of each hillside, bog, and valley.