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11
Oct 2021
Heather burning season begins on Harrogate district moors
Controlled burning of heather has started on moors in the north of the Harrogate district.
Moorland managers carry out burning between October 1 and April 15 to remove old growth and promote the development of new heather and grass shoots in spring, which helps grouse and other species thrive.
It is carried out with the agreement of Natural England, the licensing body.
Smoke drifted over areas such as Pateley Bridge and Lofthouse over the weekend as burning took place.
https://youtu.be/M79JSSoUgMI
The North Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group, which represents moorland managers, said in a statement that ground nesting birds have left the moors by October and the heather has faded.
It added that long, old heather has little nutritional value for grazing animals or grouse and loses its capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
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Burning in winter also reduces the risk of summer wildfires, it added:
Calls for a ban
But the Yorkshire-based campaign group Wild Moors has called for burning to be banned.
It claims that the practice actually damages peatland formation and is harmful to the environment.
Luke Steele, executive director of Wild Moors, said:
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