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Fire Prevention: Moorland

Asked by Josh Fenton-GlynnLabourMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 24879

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect moorland from wildfires.

Answered by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The Government is committed to rewetting peatlands where it can reduce the likelihood of severe and sustained wildfire.

In 2025, we amended the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) Regulations 2021, expanding restrictions on unnecessary burning practices, to enhance protection of upland deep peat and improve the resilience of our moorlands. Wetter, healthy-functioning peatlands are more resilient to the impacts of wildfire and deliver benefits for biodiversity and water security.

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