PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(4 September 2025)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with (a) landowners and (b) Natural England on the (i) risk of wildfire in areas of moorland that is not actively managed and (ii) potential impact of policies of non-intervention in rewilded moorland areas.

Asked by:
Lizzi Collinge (Labour)

This Government has engaged with public and private landowners, and Natural England, throughout the consultation process on amending The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021. The revised regulations, which were laid before Parliament on 9 September 2025, aim to make these landscapes more resilient to wildfire. We are encouraging land managers to develop good quality wildfire management plans.

We also held workshops with a wide range of land managers to inform the new Heather and Grass Management Code. This is being drafted by Natural England and will set clear standards for managing habitats including moorlands.

Answered by:
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