Protecting Our Moors: Why We Need Real Wildfire Experts, Not Flawed Policies

Our moorlands are facing an ever-growing threat: devastating wildfires. These aren't just natural events; they are increasingly fueled by a dangerous build-up of vegetation, turning our precious landscapes into "tinderboxes".

This situation is made worse by government policies, notably those influenced by Natural England.

The Problem: Policies Increasing Fire Risk

Defra is currently consulting on proposals to change the definition of "deep peat" from over 40cm to over 30cm. This seemingly small change would drastically expand the areas where controlled burning is restricted, requiring a license for more land.

We believes this would significantly limit essential managed burning, leading to an even greater accumulation of flammable vegetation. Our traditional winter burns have already seen a 73% reduction in fuel load management since 2021 due to existing restrictions.

Allowing vegetation to grow unchecked, especially older heather, creates hotter, more intense fires that can spread far beyond control.

The Missing Piece: Wildfire Expertise

A major concern is that neither Natural England nor Defra has a single in-house wildfire expert. This lack of practical knowledge means policies are often based on "desktop conservation" rather than real-world understanding.

Instead, Natural England is accused of relying on "questionable research" like the EMBER study, which has been described as "experimentally flawed". This flawed science then guides policies that can be "irrational, unproven, and expensive".

Even Natural England's own latest evidence review admits to "weak, inconsistent evidence" on how burning affects carbon stocks and peat accumulation.

Policies promoting "rewetting" moors by planting sphagnum moss are also questioned. Experts argue there's "no generic evidence" that rewetting reduces wildfires, and sphagnum can dry out to become tinder. In fact, major fires have occurred on supposedly "rewetted" land.

Proven Solutions: Why Traditional Management Works

We advocate for a pragmatic approach that embraces controlled burning (also known as "cool burning") and strategic grazing. This traditional technique involves carefully planned, low-intensity burns that reduce dry vegetation without damaging the underlying peat.

Controlled burning creates "firebreaks," which are crucial in hindering the spread of larger, uncontrolled blazes. Fire chiefs in Scotland and Wales, along with the National Fire Chiefs Council, endorse controlled burning as an effective tool for combating wildfires. Research even suggests it can encourage beneficial mosses like Sphagnum and be carbon neutral.

In contrast, alternative methods like mechanical cutting can actually worsen wildfire risk. Cutting leaves behind a layer of "brash" – dead fuel that dries rapidly and helps fires spread like a "massive bonfire".

The Cost of Inaction

The consequences of ignoring proven methods are severe. We are already seeing an alarming increase in wildfire incidents. These "megafires" pose a direct threat to human lives and health due to toxic smoke. The 2018 Saddleworth Moor fire exposed five million people to dangerous pollution, leading to dozens of premature deaths.

Wildfires also cause catastrophic environmental damage, releasing vast amounts of carbon stored in peat soils, which can take centuries to re-absorb. The financial costs are enormous, with wildfires already costing the UK over £350 million so far in 2025 alone, encompassing firefighting, environmental damage, health impacts, and lost livelihoods.

A Call for Informed Action

We urge the government to:

• Immediately instruct Natural England to allow preventative licenses for traditional vegetation management, especially controlled winter burning, and ensure these licenses are granted promptly.

• Ensure Natural England and Defra recruit in-house wildfire experts to guide policymaking, so decisions are based on sound, practical knowledge.

• Implement legislation requiring rural fuel loads to be reduced to safe levels, treating them as seriously as urban fire risks.

It's time to listen to those who live and work on the land, whose generations of experience and proven methods are being overlooked. We must embrace a pragmatic, evidence-based approach to protect our precious moorlands from the escalating threat of wildfires, before it’s too late.

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