Recent wildfires that swept across parts of Britain, from Suffolk to the Peak District and the Cairngorms, have intensified a debate over land management practices, particularly concerning the doctrine of "rewilding."
The fires, which ravaged landscapes like Dunwich Heath and Minsmere in Suffolk, and Tintwistle Moor and Dove Stone in the Peak District, have left significant damage. In Suffolk, an area equivalent to 210 football pitches was affected, while the Peak District saw 1,250 pitches destroyed and the Cairngorms 3,500 pitches, or ten square miles. Fire crews, assisted by local farmers, gamekeepers, and volunteers, worked to control the blazes, with residents in some areas evacuated from holiday parks and homes threatened by the flames.
While the immediate danger has subsided with the last flames extinguished, the underlying cause and future prevention strategies have become a focal point. The discussion broadly divides between those advocating for proactive, traditional land management, historically carried out by people living and working on the land, and proponents of a more natural, less human-centric approach, often termed "rewilding."
Critics of rewilding argue that the prevailing "nature is best left to itself" doctrine leads to an accumulation of flammable material, or "fuel load," in brushwood, heather, and peat. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, stated that this approach, which he characterized as "hands-off, happy-clappy, rewilding," is occurring at a time when more management is needed due to climate change and increasingly dry summers. He suggested that environmental movements and government agencies have increasingly favored this less interventionist stance.
Richard Bailey, a moorlands expert with 30 years of gamekeeping experience, noted that some of the most severe wildfires occurred on land managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which he contends is less actively managed than grouse moors. He highlighted that fire brigades have sought training from gamekeepers due to their generations of experience in moorland management. Bailey also pointed to the significant contribution of gamekeepers during the Tintwistle fire, where they provided substantial volunteer hours at no public cost.
The rewilding movement, conversely, often emphasizes "rewetting" landscapes, citing the benefits of beavers and blocking moorland drains to retain moisture, thus making the countryside less susceptible to fire. Rewilding Britain, a group critical of intensively managed grouse moors, argues that traditional heather burning for grouse management damages peatlands. They advocate for allowing nature to take its course, leading to wetter conditions and a transition from heather to moss.
However, defenders of managed grouse moors, including estate owners and gamekeepers, assert that their practices are more eco-friendly and less prone to wildfires. They argue that the winter burning of selected heather patches creates a "mosaic" of different aged heather, which acts as natural firebreaks. Bailey demonstrated this concept by showing how controlled winter burning only singes the heather tops, leaving peat beneath unharmed, unlike wildfires which burn down to the roots and damage the peat.
Jake Fiennes, a countryside expert and manager at Holkham Hall, expressed a desire to move beyond the divisive rhetoric. He noted that Britain has been managed by humans for millennia and advocated for "restorative agriculture," emphasizing compromise, partnership, and understanding. He observed that some heathland areas, like those near Dunwich, had become "rank" after being left untouched for too long.
The RSPB stated that its lowland heathland sites are actively and continuously managed and are the antithesis of what some consider "rewilding," adding that they take the risk of wildfire seriously and provide firebreaks. The National Trust indicated that their firebreaks at Dunwich were overwhelmed by the intense flames and clarified that they do not have a rewilding policy there, with decisions guided by science. They prioritize nature restoration over routine burning, believing healthier, wetter landscapes are more resilient to wildfire.
The impact of the fires on local economies has also been noted, with tourist areas like Dunwich reporting a ghostly quietness during what should be a busy period, despite being safe and open for visitors. The debate over land management continues as the country faces the prospect of further heatwaves.