Peat Bogs: Controlled Burning

(asked on 2nd September 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent illegal peat burning.


Answered by
Trudy Harrison Portrait
Trudy Harrison
This question was answered on 22nd September 2022

No burning of peat is permitted.

The burning of vegetation for management purposes is a permissible management activity and is conducted for a variety of reasons. These can include reducing the risk of wildfire or for the conservation, enhancement or management of the natural environment. In these circumstances the vegetation above the soil layer is burned rather than the soil itself. The burning of any peat present is not permitted.

In respect of protected deep peat habitats, the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 and associated guidance sets out the very limited circumstances where burning of vegetation will be seen as a permissible activity, when conducted in the right place for the right reasons.

Any unlicenced burning of vegetation on sites to which the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) 2021 applies, will be investigated.

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