England’s fragile peatlands are to be afforded stronger protections under new government plans, which will extend the existing partial ban on heather burning across vast swathes of the uplands.

In a move hailed as a major step forward for conservation, the area of peatland where burning is prohibited will be increased by 146,000 hectares — the equivalent of more than 644,000 football pitches. This will mean a total area of 368,000 hectares is protected.

The measure will extend the current legislation to cover all peatlands deeper than 30cm within Less Favoured Areas, which lie above the moorland line. Previous restrictions only applied to designated landscapes, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

The practice of heather burning is intended to encourage heather growth to provide food and shelter for red grouse, which are fired upon for sport in driven shoots. However, environmentalists, including Wild Moors, have warned that the practice is accelerating the degradation of vital carbon stores and damaging the nation’s upland landscapes.

Peatlands, often dubbed England’s rainforests, are the nation’s largest terrestrial carbon sinks, locking away an estimated 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon. When these delicate ecosystems are subject to burning, the peat dries out, losing its capacity to store carbon. This transforms the carbon sink into a carbon emitter, exacerbating climate change.

Burning on peatland also reduces water quality, impacts on flood resilience and undermines biodiversity by damaging habitat for threatened wildlife and plantlife. Moreover, residents in parts of North and South Yorkshire have long voiced concerns over the impact on air quality, with seasonal burning events contributing to increased air pollution in nearby cities, towns and villages.

Announcing the policy shift, Minister for Nature Mary Creigh said:  “Our peatlands are this country’s Amazon Rainforest – home to our most precious wildlife, storing carbon and reducing flooding risk.

“The UK has 13% of the world’s blanket bog. A rare global habitat, it is a precious part of our national heritage, and that is why we’re announcing a consultation on these measures to ensure deep peat is better protected,” she added.

“These changes will benefit communities by improving air and water quality, and protect homes and businesses from flood damage, which supports economic stability and security under our Plan for Change.”

The government’s proposals will now undergo an eight-week consultation. The measures are supported by evidence from Natural England, which has endorsed stricter licensing for heather burning. In future, burning will only be permitted under specific licences where there is a demonstrable need, such as to mitigate the risk of wildfires.

Image credit: Steve Morgan / Greenpeace