Lake District: Major risk of 'catastrophic wildfires'

They state that wildfire poses a significant threat to the stunning Lake District which attracts 18 million visitors each year to enjoy its rich cultural heritage, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

The Lake District holds a significant carbon store, with peatlands alone storing an estimated 28.5 million tonnes of carbon.

The Moorland Association told The Cumberland News that wildfire in the area could be so severe' that it would be beyond the capability of the fire and rescue service to control, and would pose a "significant" risk to those living in towns and villages.

Wildfires are becoming increasingly common across the UK, and in the last two weeks Cumbria has seen two.

Firefighters, who tackled the county's first wildfire of the year, warned it "could have been a whole lot worse".

Read more: 

• Lake District: Anger over sheep removal claims
• First wildfires of year tackled by Shap and Penrith firefighters

Crews from Shap and Penrith were called to the "well alight" blaze on Ralfland Common, west of Shap.

Shap fire station said crews feared the fire "may not be the last", thanks to the large amount of dead vegetation present across the county, and cautioned against "the potential for serious harm" should a fire take hold in the upland

The fire station said: "It's clear to see that the management, or rather lack of, across the county's uplands in recent years is having a huge impact on increasing the risk of wildfire."

"All that we see now are increasing vast acres of dead brown ground with the potential for serious harm - undoing any good they feel they are doing for nature or the environment," the station continued.

The growing risk of catastrophic wildfires has led to fire chiefs demanding that the Government gets to grip with the risk posed by a rapid build-up in dry vegetation. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said it was time for joined-up “strategic decision and policymaking” by central Government.

The fire chiefs were responding to a letter to the Home Secretary from the Moorland Association which argued that Natural England policy was causing the rise in vegetation fuel loads.

“Like Los Angeles, our politicians have ignored the build-up of vegetation which their own red tape has created”, said Andrew Gilruth, CEO of the Moorland Association whose members own one million acres of moorland in England and Wales.

Natural England restrictions on mowing of heather and the grazing of sheep on moorlands is further adding to this fuel load. a Seven per cent reduction in the national flock over the last two years means that 600,000 tonnes less vegetation is being removed from the English countryside each year.

Earlier this week, Defra announced that it plans to extend the areas where wildfires cannot be prevented by the use of traditional winter burns of heather. Proposals would see an extension to a ban introduced in 2021 to a further 146,000 hectares of deep peat uplands including large swathes of moorland and fells in Cumbria, including the Lake District.

Any burning would need to be done under strict licence where there is a clear need such as reducing wildfire risk. This ban would see an improvement to air quality in villages, help the country reach net zero by 2050, and expand wildlife-rich habitats, says Defra.

But this ban has prompted an outcry from farmers, who are seeing their flocks of sheep being removed from the fells, and landowners, with the Moorland Association telling its members they should consider taking emergency action to reduce fuel loads and create firebreaks through both cutting and controlled burning.

In a letter to David Allen, Cumbria's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, the Moorland Association said Natural England's policy has for many years prevented fuel load reductions by winter burns or mowing.

“This accelerating problem requires a rapid response if the lives of the men and women who work at the frontline of firefighting are not to be endangered along with the general public."

A reply from the Commissioners office revealed to The Cumberland News by the Moorland Association, said “As you highlight, our Community Risk Management Plan 2024-28 identifies the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires as a risk to Cumbria’s natural landscapes. We review this risk as part of our risk management process and have robust plans and procedures in place to deal with fires should they occur.

“Our plans and procedures incorporate national guidance and best practice - developed by subject matter experts - and are exercised on a regular basis.

"Through significant investment, our crews have also been provided with specialist wildfire equipment, training and personal protective equipment.

"Furthermore, our response to and management of wildfire incidents has been developed with input from key stakeholders, including landowners, over several years. We acknowledge the various methods of land management to mitigate and prevent wildfires and would welcome the Moorland Association’s support and input in refining such methods." 

Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, said that the number of incidents of wildfire happening in Cumbria and across the country should be a 'huge concern to all of us'.

“Sadly the decision from Natural England to incentivise farmers to reduce the number of sheep they graze on the uplands and to leave huge swathes of land unmanaged will literally add fuel to the fire here.

“There is a complete lack of joined up thinking here between government agencies.

“The idea that leaving our historic landscapes unmanaged is somehow beneficial to the environment was always nonsense and the wildfires remind us that it’s dangerous nonsense.”

Adam Day, MD of The Farmer Network, based in Penrith said for several years now, farmers in the Lake District and the Northern Pennines have been telling him that too many hill sheep and too many flocks have now been removed through schemes and policies.

“Farmers are raising concerns that there is now a dangerous over-burden of dead or white grass as a result of under-grazing. They are also worried about the rapidly increasing proliferation of vast swathes of bracken, and an increasing tick-burden which will affect the remaining livestock and visitors alike. Here once again is evidence of the polarity between livestock farming and conservation.

“The science behind the proposed ban on controlled heather burning appears to be contentious, but what is clear is that the ever-present threat of wildfire is growing year on year as more and more sheep are removed from the hills in the name of nature. I’m sick of saying it, but somewhere on our hills there is a sensible balance to be found between maintaining viable healthy hefted flocks of sheep, grazing cattle and providing more spaces for nature and improved biodiversity.

“Sadly, I know what it coming down the hill-farmers track in the near future; yet more schemes across Cumbria to remove hill sheep. Some farmers may wish to enter the schemes, the vast majority will not, and I worry for the future of our young hill shepherds and the communities they live and work in.

“A well-managed rural environment including an ancient and established hefting sheep hefting system ticks so many boxes for farming, food, nature, the local economy and our rural communities, and yet is slowly but surely disappearing. Cumbria is as much about people as it is about landscapes. Big questions need to be asked. Who is driving these de-stocking policies? who stands to gain? and most importantly, who stands to lose most? We should halt this tunnel-vision desperation to get rid of our hill-sheep and their shepherds, and consider the bigger balanced picture.”

Anger over sheep removal has also led to fears of wildfires by Cumbria's graziers. Vic Lewis from the Federation of Cumbria Commoners said they were concerned that the risk of wildfires on the fells is increasing.

She added: “Hill farmers have been asked by Natural England to reduce the numbers of sheep they graze on the fells to support nature restoration, but one of the results is a lot of ungrazed grass and scrub. The first quarter of this year has been much dryer than average and all this tinder dry grass could easily go up in flames due to human carelessness. We could do with a robust risk assessment of the likelihood of wildfires because of land management changes and a coordinated plan to deal with them.”

Markus Campbell-Savours MP for Penrith and Solway told The Cumberland News : “Farmers regularly tell me of their concerns about the incentives Governments provide and their unintentional consequences. This is why I’m keen to hear farmers’ experiences of SFI24 and other environmental schemes. We need to learn lessons and adapt these schemes. Importantly, the new Government is committed to delivering a Land Use Framework for England, something which the previous Government promised, but failed on. This will drive better decision making on how land is used and managed.”

National Farmers Union (NFU) Deputy President David Exwood said: “These new proposals will be deeply concerning to upland farmers, particularly those managing moorland areas, who are already facing huge challenges with the closure of the SFI scheme, reductions in direct payments and changes to inheritance tax.

“Changing peatland management practices could threaten the viability of livestock farming in these unique landscapes. We will work closely with our members on a response to this consultation.

“We will also continue to engage with Defra to ensure it understands the importance of upland farming systems, for food production and also for the vital peatland restoration work farmers are already doing, which is sequestering carbon and supporting the industry on the path to net zero.”

A Natural England spokesperson said: “In Cumbria we are working constructively with land managers to develop sustainable plans for moorland management. These use techniques such as rewetting of peat and restoration of habitats plus, reducing burning as a management tool.

“We recognise concerns about wildfire and the devastating consequences they can have and welcome any opportunities to educate people about protecting and safeguarding these special habitats through prevention and awareness building.”