Don’t let emotion obscure the facts: Our letter on heather burning sent to The Guardian

Friends of the Earth campaigner Guy Shrubsole should not allow emotion to obscure facts (Grouse estates investigated over heather burning, 24th Feb). GWCT research shows that the occasional burning of small sections of heather increases, rather than decreases, both moorland plant and bird communities. The removal of excessive heather also reduces the risk of wildfires. These can ignite large areas of the underlying peat, which results in both the loss of carbon and devastates the local ecosystem. Lastly, there is no compelling evidence that heather burning affects water runoff rates in a river catchment level. If we want to save our precious moors, we must stop perpetuating myths.

Andrew Gilruth
Director of communications