Wildfire, Peatland Management and Natural England Policy - Documents Released Under FOI Act
- Andrew Gilruth
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The documents published below were released by Natural England in response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act.
They are published in full and without commentary. This is to support transparency and inform public discussion about wildfire risk, peatland management and the development of related policy and guidance.
These documents include internal guidance, briefing material and correspondence between Natural England staff and senior management. They illustrate how wildfire policy and operational practice have been discussed within the organisation, including areas where professional judgement, interpretation and implementation have been actively considered.
The publication of these materials is not intended to suggest impropriety, misconduct or unlawful behaviour. Rather, they are made available so that readers may understand the context, complexity and ongoing evolution of policy thinking in this area.
Personal data has been redacted by Natural England prior to release, in accordance with statutory requirements.
Readers are encouraged to consider the documents alongside Natural England’s published policies, guidance and public statements.
Documents Published
Natural England
This document sets out Natural England’s formal health and safety framework for wildfire, including definitions, fire classifications, and thresholds governing staff and volunteer involvement in wildfire response.
Natural England
An internal protocol describing how wildfire incidents are reported, escalated and communicated within Natural England, including triggers for senior management and Defra notification.
Natural England
An internal communications briefing intended to guide responses to internal and external queries on wildfire, covering land management, wildfire resilience, incident response and public messaging.
Natural England
Internal correspondence and guidance relating to wildfire actions for area teams and National Nature Reserves, including health and safety considerations and reporting requirements.
Natural England
Email correspondence between operational staff and the Health and Safety team discussing the application of wildfire guidance to peatland fires, including smouldering peat and post-incident “damping down”.
Natural England
Email correspondence involving Natural England Board members and senior leadership discussing wildfire risk, peatland management and proposed changes to the definition of “deep peat”.
An external evidence briefing referenced within Natural England policy and communications, setting out current research and interpretation relating to peatland restoration and wildfire resilience.
Further Reading
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