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Habitat Management News

Fire as a management tool

The use of fire to manage vegetation has a very long history. The main objective has in the past been mostly to open up or maintain areas for grazing. In the process, some very valuable habitats have been created. Fire still has a role in vegetation management for nature conservation. It has both advantages and disadvantages as a tool for managing heathland and grassland in the uplands and lowlands. These have been reviewed at a workshop organised by the National Trust and English Nature. The proceedings, edited by David Bullock and Sharon Gunn, are available from English Nature. Case studies are given of fire management on Dartmoor and Exmoor and on the culm grasslands of Devon and Cornwall, with a comparison with the Australian experience. The use of fire in the uplands is given a general review.

The proceedings contain a valuable set of checklists and guidance notes on deciding whether or not to burn, the advantages and disadvantages of burning, planning programmes and individual burns, and legal and safety requirements. It is available free from the English Nature Enquiry Service, tel. 01733 455101, and ask for EN Research Report number 297, the Impact, use and control of fire.

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