GAMEKEEPERS DO GOOD WORK

LETTER in response to bog-burning brings cause for concern (‘Laughing Badger’ Accrington Observer, 24 Jan)

Mr Wood’s [column is] misleading about reasons behind heather burning and the work gamekeepers do on our moorland.

The burning of heather only takes place where it is necessary for the protection and regeneration of our moorland habitat.

The process involves burning small areas of rank, old heather to remove the older growth and allowing the plants to regenerate after the burn.

This ‘cool’ burn passes quickly over the surface, burning the over-ground vegetation but not affecting the humus or litter layer on the surface of the peat.

Removing these dense heather canopies enables moorland managers to inoculate the soil with Sphagnum moss plug plants which protects the fragile peat and slows the water flow across the surface, mitigating against flash flooding downstream.

At least 42,000 hectares of peatland restoration work has already taken place on grouse moors.

Another key reason for the managed burning of heather is to prevent wildfires.

On much of this deep peat land there is no sustainable alternative management technique to controlled burning and banning it would result in thousands of tonnes of new biomass building up in high fire risk zones.

It would be good if Mr Wood could at least acknowledge some of the good work done by gamekeepers.

Richard Bailey

Moorland Gamekeeper Peak District Moorland Group, White Peak, Derbyshire