wildfires

Defra said 'repeated burning' on peatland damages precious ecosystems, but the Moorland Association says heather burning has helped to save lives

Scottish Land and Estates welcomes the ban which will come into effect between April 1 and September 30 every year in the Cairngorms National Park

Former Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing has warned restricting muirburn could make it harder for Scotland to deal with wildfires in the future

Scottish Land & Estates said the grant is available for rural businesses which sustained damages after helping to put out wildfires which devastated 11,827 hectares of moorland and woodland in June and July

Five areas remain in drought, with more areas likely to declare drought status within the next few weeks as groundwater and reservoir levels across England continue to recede

Is Defra right to extend a ban on heather burning?

The Environment Agency said five areas in England are officially in drought, with six more experiencing prolonged dry weather following the driest six months to July since 1976

A new study said gamekeeping has a vital economic, environmental, and social role in shaping moorlands across England

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown discusses Defra's announcement to give councils the power to seize and crush vehicles belonging to waste criminals and fly tippers after MPs warned that farming families were being pushed into 'debt and despair' due to criminals dumping waste on their land, plus the sheep industry's concerns that destocking the uplands is leading to 'increased' wildfire risks, and the 130 jobs at risk due to the planned closure of Arla's milk processing plant in North Yorkshire

Farmers have argued sheep grazing plays a 'vital role' in controlling the risk of wildfires