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The UK government has announced a comprehensive ban on burning vegetation on all peat over 30cm deep across England, aiming to protect vital habitats, cut carbon emissions, and enhance water and air quality amidst ongoing debates about land management and conservation policies.
The UK government has announced an expanded ban on burning vegetation on England’s deep peatlands, aiming to protect vital habitats, reduce carbon emissions, and improve air and water quality. From 30 September, the prohibition will extend to all peat over 30cm deep, a significant increase from previous restrictions that covered just 222,000 hectares. This new measure will safeguard approximately 676,628 hectares of deep peatland, a habitat often degraded by burning and intensive drainage.
Peatlands naturally act like sponges, storing vast amounts of carbon—estimated at 3.2 billion tonnes in the UK alone—and regulating water flow to prevent downstream flooding. However, 80% of England’s peatlands have been dried out due to past drainage and burning, especially where land is managed as grouse moors. Heather burning is commonly practised to stimulate fresh shoots favoured by grouse, enhancing game bird numbers for shooting. But this practice destroys delicate ecosystems, killing species such as adders, toads, and ground-nesting birds, while releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere and degrading air quality.
Under previous rules, burning was only banned on designated special scientific interest sites (SSSIs) that are also protected as special conservation or protection areas, provided no licence was granted. This partial approach left many deep peat areas vulnerable. According to the government announcement, the updated legislation removes these limitations, covering all qualifying peat directly and thereby offering far greater protection.
Environment minister Mary Creagh highlighted peatlands as “England’s Amazon rainforest,” emphasising their role in hosting rare wildlife, storing carbon, and reducing flood risks. She warned that burning releases harmful smoke and damages local ecosystems, and said the new restrictions will aid peatland restoration and resilience against wildfires.
Environmental groups have welcomed the move. Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, described the ban extension as “a hugely positive step forwards” for protecting habitats and mitigating carbon emissions, as well as improving water quality and flood management. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s UK Peatland Programme has previously pointed to burning’s severe impacts on peat soil sustainability and ecosystem health, urging a complete halt to fire use in peatland management.
Despite these protections, enforcement remains a challenge. Reports suggest that many burns have taken place without licences even under existing regulations, weakening conservation efforts. Wildlife and Countryside Link has called for stronger controls, noting that some peatlands have devolved into heather monocultures, which exacerbate carbon release and flooding.
Conversely, some upland farming and land management interests have expressed concerns about the ban. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) argues that limited evidence supports a full ban and worries that it may undermine sustainable upland grazing and increase wildfire risks due to buildup of vegetation. The NFU urges more research and risk assessments before implementing such sweeping restrictions, advocating for management approaches that balance environmental and agricultural needs.
The government’s proposals underwent consultation earlier in the year, reflecting ongoing debate between conservation objectives and rural livelihood considerations. However, the new ban’s broader geographic scope and reduced exceptions mark a decisive step towards restoring peatlands as crucial carbon sinks and biodiversity havens, with enhanced protections potentially benefiting climate goals and community resilience alike.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from the UK government dated 31 March 2025, announcing proposals to extend the ban on burning heather on deep peatlands. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-proposals-to-ban-heather-burning-on-peatland-to-protect-air-water-and-wildlife?utm_source=openai)) The Guardian article dated 9 September 2025 reports on the implementation of these proposals, indicating that the content is fresh and original.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quotes attributed to Environment Minister Mary Creagh and RSPB Chief Executive Beccy Speight in the Guardian article are consistent with their statements in the 31 March 2025 press release. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-proposals-to-ban-heather-burning-on-peatland-to-protect-air-water-and-wildlife?utm_source=openai)) No discrepancies or variations in wording were found, suggesting the quotes are accurately reproduced.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable UK news organisation, and references official government press releases, indicating high reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims regarding the ban on burning vegetation on deep peatlands, the environmental impacts of burning, and the responses from environmental groups and the National Farmers’ Union are consistent with previous reports and studies. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/31/peatland-burning-ban-aims-to-protect-wildlife-and-englands-carbon-stores?utm_source=openai), [nfuonline.com](https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/heather-peatland-burning-ban/?utm_source=openai)) The language and tone are appropriate for the topic and region, and the structure is focused on the subject matter without excessive or off-topic detail.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh and original, with accurate and consistent quotes from reliable sources. The claims are plausible and supported by previous reports and studies, with appropriate language and structure. No significant issues were identified, indicating a high level of credibility.
