As controlled winter burning has been shown to benefit rare ground-nesting birds such as curlew and golden plover, it is bizarre to see the National Trust use the latest fire on Saddleworth Moor to argue against it (Crews battle 'first moorland fire of the season' on Saddleworth Moor, 24 March).
Controlled burning, undertaken outside of the breeding season, also performs a vital role in reducing the fuel load if wildfires break out. Less than three years ago, such a fire on Saddleworth Moor saw the loss of 200 years’ worth of carbon in a single night. If we are to do our best for the environment, we should use all the tools we can to stop it happening again.
James Swyer
Press & Publications Manager, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust