Burning land should not be stopped

I HAVE on my land an endangered butterfly called the marsh fritillary. It thrives on boggy land by making its nests in cow hoof prints.

If you burn the old vegetation off in spring, new growth will encourage the cattle to graze, making new homes for the butterflies to live in.

If the land becomes overgrown, cattle will not venture into the bogs, which will result in loss of habitat.

To the same end, we have seen a rise in the number of tics.

These give the cattle red water – a disease which can prove fatal if not spotted. By burning in the spring, you can reduce the incidence of red water.

Burning should not be stopped.

Blackdown Hills farmer (name and address supplied)