The Consequences of a Failure to Manage Moorland

After only a few days of dry weather, the first moorland wildfire of the year has already been recorded in the Peak District. Thanks to the rapid response from crews at Slaithwaite Fire Station, the incident was quickly brought under control.

But events like this should prompt a wider conversation about how our uplands are managed — and the consequences when practical land management is restricted or undervalued.

Moorlands are living landscapes that require active stewardship. Without management, vegetation accumulates year after year, creating continuous layers of dry, highly combustible fuel. Grasses such as Molinia caerulea are among the first to dry out and ignite after only a short spell of warm weather.

Once conditions allow, fires can spread rapidly across these unmanaged fuels, particularly where there are no breaks in vegetation.

The result is exactly what we are increasingly seeing across the uplands: larger, hotter, and more destructive wildfires.

For generations, those who live and work in the uplands — particularly gamekeepers — have actively managed these landscapes. Through practices such as controlled or prescribed burning, they carefully remove older vegetation and encourage fresh plant growth.

This work creates a mosaic of vegetation of different ages and heights, naturally breaking up fuel loads and slowing the spread of wildfire. These managed areas are widely recognised as helping to reduce fire intensity and provide valuable firebreaks.

Importantly, this work is carried out year after year, often at no cost to the taxpayer, funded privately by the estates that manage these landscapes.

Gamekeepers and moorland managers spend countless hours maintaining tracks, monitoring vegetation, and carrying out controlled burns during the appropriate season — all with the aim of keeping the uplands healthy, productive, and resilient.

In recent years, the role of traditional moorland management has become the subject of increasing criticism. Yet when wildfires occur, it is often the very landscapes where management has been reduced that carry the greatest fuel loads and therefore the greatest risk.

The truth is that many of the people who know these landscapes best are the gamekeepers who work on them every day. Their knowledge, practical skills, and long-term stewardship play a vital role in maintaining the balance of these fragile environments.

Wildfires in peat-rich landscapes are not just a local problem. They can release vast amounts of stored carbon, damage wildlife habitats, and leave scars that take decades to recover.

Preventing these events is far more effective than trying to control them once they start.

That is why responsible vegetation management — including controlled burning carried out by experienced professionals — remains an essential tool in protecting our uplands.

As this early wildfire reminds us, the question is not whether moorland management is necessary.