Moorland group warns of landscape-scale wildfires risk

Recent wildfires in the Peak District have sparked concerns about the growing fire risks in moorland areas, particularly amid policies aimed at removing livestock from these landscapes.

In the first week of March, the Peak District in Derbyshire was hit by five separate wildfire incidents, burning more than 150ha of moorland.

Fires near Marsden Moor, Diggle, and Heyden Clough highlighted the dangerous combination of dry vegetation, high winds, and an increasing fuel load of highly flammable vegetation. The conditions have led to flame lengths that are often unsafe to tackle from a safety perspective.

See also: Pros and cons of controlled moorland fires

These conditions have led land managers and firefighters to call for more effective measures to mitigate the risks of such disasters.

The Peak District Moorland Group, a grassroots organisation focused on moorland management, has long argued that removing livestock from these areas could result in more vegetation growth, creating a greater problem for the future.

Livestock, particularly sheep and cattle, traditionally graze on moorland, helping to control the growth of dwarf shrubs and Molinia (moor grass), which contribute to a high fuel load.

Without natural grazing, the landscape becomes overgrown, making wildfires more intense and harder to control.

Land managers argue that the push for raising water tables on moorland, intended to reduce the dominance of vegetation growth, along with the removal of grazing animals, have unintentionally led to an increase in vegetation, which is leaving moorland susceptible to landscape-scale wildfires.

When these plants dry out in warmer months, they become highly combustible, creating a tinderbox effect that can make wildfires spread rapidly.

These fires often burn deep into the peat soils, unlike controlled management burns which only remove the surface vegetation, and can smoulder for days, reigniting long after the initial flames have been extinguished.

The problem is worsened by irresponsible visitor behaviour, with reports of unattended barbecues and open fires, despite clear signage warning against such actions.

Call for action

The Peak District Moorland Group has stressed the need for urgent action from policymakers to address these growing risks.

They argue that those creating policies without practical experience in wildfire management are not fully understanding the severity of the situation.

Richard Bailey, a spokesperson for the group, said: “We strongly believe that traditional management practices, including prescribed burning and careful grazing regimes, should be included in modern management plans, which also has benefits for social, economic and environmental parameters for all.”