www.moorlandassociation.org/post/fact-ch...
11.03.2026 07:24
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🔍 We're told "80% of UK peatland is damaged", but this claim stems from a "highly speculative" 1998 estimate. Real inspections show 58% of blanket bog SSSIs are in favourable condition. We need evidence-based policy!
Read more on our website - link is in comments 👇
"It’s not far off a ban, is it?" - Toby Perkins MP.
At the recent Environmental Audit Committee Peatland Inquiry, Defra admitted that zero heather burning licences have been approved. A licensing system with a 100% rejection rate isn't regulation; it's a stealth ban.
🔬 Does prescribed burning harm peatland carbon? New research says no. Field tests show "quick, cool burns" clear surface scrub but leave soils safely at 17°C. A vital win for evidence-based conservation and rural land stewardship.
Read more on our website - link is in comments 👇
⚖️ Defra’s lead ban is now law. For grouse moors, the key transition date is 1 April 2029. Thanks to early voluntary efforts, our rural sector is ahead of the curve. Let's focus on practical testing and supply.
Read more on our website - link is in comments 👇
🚒 Courtesy of the Peak District Moorland Group.
3 days of fine weather and sadly we have experienced our first moorland wildfire in the Peak District.
Well done Slaithwaite Fire Station in your rapid response. 👏🏼
💧Rewetting Peatlands: The Wildfire Reality
Speaking at the Environmental Audit Committee's Peatland Inquiry, Moorland Association Chief Exec Andrew Gilruth pushes back against the narrative that rewetting is a universal solution for all landscapes.
Find out what else happened - link in replies👇
🗣️ At the EAC Peatland Inquiry, we highlighted how Defra's ban on controlled burning ignores fire chiefs and puts moors at risk of severe wildfires. Conservation requires evidence-based policy that trusts our rural land managers.
Read more on our website - link is in comments 👇
🎞️ Courtesy of the Forest of Bowland Moorland Group.
A beautiful morning in Bowland and a beautiful sight to see the curlew coming back!
🔥 The Langdale wildfire proves passive conservation has failed. We must address the "fuel load" of unmanaged vegetation. Evidence shows controlled burning & targeted grazing prevent catastrophic summer fires. Time to empower local land managers.
Read more on our website - link is in comments 👇
📸 Courtesy of the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group.
Just another black grouse on another managed estate in an alder tree here in the Yorkshire Dales.
🔍 Update: Natural England initially refused to answer our questions on the peer review of their heather burning report. They've now apologised for the error & promised a full response. We keep pushing for evidence-based policy.
Read more on our website - link is in comments 👇
🦉 Courtesy of the Peak District Moorland Group.
Great to see that many of our resident barn owls have survived this ridiculously wet winter and there are voles in their territories which provide a high percentage of their diet.
🗺️ Planning rules shape the future of our moorlands. We're submitting an evidence-led response to the NPPF consultation on wildfire risks, cumulative impacts & rural development. We need your practical feedback by 10 March.
Read more on our website - link is in comments 👇
🐦 Courtesy of the Calderdale Moorland Group.
Over the past weeks, we have seen lapwing returning back to our moors and moorland fringes which are a safe environment to rear their young.
We must listen to the science. To protect our landscapes from catastrophic summer fires, we must manage the land in winter. Read Professor Rein's full analysis 👇
wildfiretoday.com/europe-burns...
🔥 Firefighting is the last resort. Active management is the solution. 🔥
2025 was Europe's worst wildfire year on record, destroying over 1 million hectares. Looking ahead to summer 2026, leading fire scientist Professor Guillermo Rein warns: we cannot simply fight our way out of this crisis. (1/2)
☑️ The government is creating an official "Living Heritage" inventory to protect our most important cultural traditions. We have a unique, fleeting opportunity to ensure Community Grouse Conservation is recognized on that list.
Find out more and sign our pledge - link is in comments 👇
Forty-day moor fire caused by 'cooking in forest': www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
🦉 Courtesy of the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group.
Its been a busy few days for our keepers. National Nest Box Week commenced on 14th Feb and as in previous years, our keepers have been getting industrious, turning their skilled hands to fabricating and installing nest boxes across their estates.
🌿 How can we best protect our uplands from devastating wildfires?
A new study from the Peak District reveals that the answer lies in listening to the people who know the land best.
Read our summary of the study - link is in comments 👇
