2025

It is with some frustration that I read the news reports on the recent spate of wildfires across the country...

The GWCT would urge all supporters with an interest in managed heather burning to contribute to the consultation on Defra’s proposed amendments to The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021.

Defra informed stakeholders on 21^st March that GL43 will be published in the next couple of weeks. However, GL45 will not be released this year, meaning that individual licences must be sought for those wanting to release gamebirds on SPAs.

For any fire to start and spread it needs fuel, oxygen and an ignition source.  But when it comes to wildfires at a landscape scale there are additional factors such as the fire environment (weather, topography and fuel) and the fire regime (landform, climate and vegetation).