New Science Strengthens the Case for Controlled Burning

In the wake of Defra’s consultation on further restrictions to heather burning, many in our community have felt an uncomfortable truth, that Natural England appears to have already made up its mind against burning, regardless of the evidence.

Now, a wave of peer-reviewed research from around the world should give serious pause to those intent on sidelining this vital tool. For gamekeepers, these findings confirm what generations of practical experience have taught, when carried out by skilled hands, controlled burning benefits wildlife, habitat and wildfire safety.

A Norwegian study found that traditional management, burning alongside grazing, produces a rich mosaic of habitats, each supporting its own plants, insects and soil life. Biodiversity was highest where burning and grazing kept vegetation varied, preventing the monocultures that creep in when land is neglected.

From the other side of the Atlantic comes a 38-year satellite analysis showing that prescribed burning reduces both the occurrence and severity of wildfires. Recently burned ground acted as a natural firebreak for up to five years. The contrast with unmanaged land could not be clearer; fuel loads build, fires spread faster and the damage is far greater.

Closer to home, a decade-long British study across upland peatlands found that burning can improve the nutritional value of key plants for wildlife and grazing. Levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements were all higher on burnt plots, with benefits lasting up to nine years. Cotton-grass, vital for many upland birds, also showed increased nutrient content after burning.

Birdlife benefits too. European research on heathlands showed bird species such as Woodlark and Stonechat thriving in areas managed with fire, with territory densities over 60% higher than in comparable areas without burning. Open ground created by fire not only helps these birds find food more easily, it maintains the invertebrate populations they depend on.

On carbon, a new Chinese peatland study found that prescribed burning increased soil carbon storage, challenging the assumption that all fire means carbon loss. By removing old litter and stimulating vigorous new growth, burning helped lock more carbon into the soil over time.

There is also a public health angle. A US study found that the type and intensity of fire matters greatly to the health risks from smoke. High-intensity wildfires produce the most dangerous smoke for lungs and hearts, while low-intensity burns, such as our traditional heather management fires, carry far lower risks.

The same applies to those on the fire line. Research on wildfire firefighters shows exposure to harmful chemicals, metals and lung injury markers rises sharply after battling uncontrolled blazes. Reducing the need for such dangerous work through proactive burning is not just good for the environment, it’s a public safety measure.

That is why the Moorland Association has formally sent all of these studies to Defra’s Peatland Protection Team. Any Minister taking a decision on heather burning must do so with all the evidence in front of them - not just the studies Natural England happens to like. Science should guide policy, not selective interpretation.

Taken together, this research paints a clear picture: controlled burning, done properly, is a cornerstone of healthy upland management. It sustains biodiversity, supports grazing, improves habitat quality for birds, enhances carbon storage, reduces wildfire risk and protects people’s health. These are not anecdotal claims, they are the conclusions of rigorous, peer-reviewed science.

Gamekeepers are the stewards of our moorland landscapes. They understand that balance is everything, and that balance comes from active, skilled management, not neglect. The latest science is on our side. We must ensure it is heard, loud and clear, in the corridors of power.

Now is the time to stand firm for evidence-led policy, share your knowledge with decision-makers, and remind them that our traditions are not relics of the past, but proven tools for a safer, richer, and more resilient upland future.

This article first appeared in Shooting Times

📧 Keep updated on all moorland issues - sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter.