By Felix Meister, D.Phil., Senior Advisor Scotland
Today (15 September 2026) marks the beginning of the 2026/27 muirburn season in Scotland. This is the first time that the season starts on this new date rather than 1 October, and it is the second season that will end on 31 March rather than the old date of 15 April. These changes to the muirburn season were introduced in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. It is worth noting that the opening of the season does not mean that conditions are automatically suitable for burning. Land managers have a responsibility to assess weather conditions, vegetation, and wildfire risk on the day.
Today also marks the coming into effect of the new licences to make muirburn on non-peatland and peatland respectively. This means that, as of today, it is illegal to make muirburn in Scotland unless under a valid licence issued by NatureScot. These licences were also introduced in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 and they regulate the purposes for which burning can be undertaken on deep peat (more than 40 cm) and shallow peat (40 cm or less). Alongside licences, a new Muirburn Code is coming into effect today, which sets out best-practice guidance in relation to burning.
The GWCT has taken a special interest in the formation of the new licences and the Code, because the scientific evidence illustrates very clearly the vital role that muirburn can play for moorland conservation. In January, amid debates of the Natural Environment Bill, we wrote an open letter to the Scottish Minister of Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, in which we set out the scientific evidence and suggested amendments to muirburn legislation, which were subsequently implemented. We were also regular members of the working group convened by NatureScot to discuss the provisions of the Code.
Moreover, over the last year and a half, GWCT Advisory Services Scotland have been extremely busy working with farms and estates to help them prepare for the new licences and ensure that the right licence is available for the right area. To date, we have collaborated with 34 estates from South Lanarkshire to Morayshire. We have organised peat-depth surveys in the methodologies required by NatureScot, and either carried them out ourselves or trained estate staff to do so. Currently, we are managing over 37,000 survey points.
Following the implementation of the new licences, we anticipate that compliance monitoring will become an important issue. In other words, how can land managers demonstrate that the fires they put in were within licensed areas? Our Data Management Services offer a simple and effective way to record muirburn activities on mobile phones, which can then be mapped against licence maps. This offers vital transparency and powerful protection against any allegations of wrongdoing.
Anyone requiring assistance with peat-depth surveys, muirburn-licence applications, or compliance monitoring is encouraged to contact scottishadvisory@gwct.org.uk.