Moorland owners urged to follow burning code (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Moorland owners urged to follow burning code

2:02pm Friday 9th May 2008

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MOORLAND owners and keepers have been urged to follow the new heather and grass burning code.

Martin Gillibrand, secretary of the Moorland Association, said the authorities were trusting them to be responsible.

But if that trust was broken, the "light touch" approach adopted by the Defra and Natural England would change.

Mr Gillibrand was addressing a well-attended meeting organised by The Heather Trust at The Bridge Hotel, Walshford, near Wetherby.

He is a member of the Moorland Burning Working Group, which advised Defra on the new voluntary code, which took effect on October 1 last year.

The meeting was held to explain the background to the code and gather feedback on its first season.

Mr Gillibrand said burning had been carried out for hundreds of years and offered huge benefits when done responsibly.

"I start from the view that we have nothing to apologise for," he said.

"Mosaic burning was the best way of keeping heather of value to sheep, grouse and all the other life that is so dependant on it."

He despaired when he heard of no burn policies.

"If we do not burn heather, we will lose what our forefathers spent so much time creating," he said.

That had resulted in 70pc of the heather moorlands managed for grouse being designated sites of special scientific interest.

The increase in public access and climate change had increased the risk of wild fires, particularly where heather was left to grow tall and rank.

One such fire on the North Yorkshire Moors had taken the county's fire brigade days to put out and caused great damage.

Another wild fire on a nearby moor, where controlled burning was regularly carried out, was put out by keepers in an afternoon.

Mr Gillibrand said burning must be done correctly as bad burning could cause damage.

He warned the code would be kept under constant review and appealed to all those concerned to use it.

"If we do not justify the trust put in us, there will be plenty of people saying we told you they could not be trusted and we will have a regime run by people who do not know what they are talking about," he said.

"It is vital that we all observe the letter and spirit of the law."

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