Despite it being illegal to burn deep peat on a protected site without a licence, Natural England has received reports of potential breaches of regulations, including sites in Derbyshire, and is conducting an investigation as a result. 

Upland peat bogs provide endless benefits for climate, wildlife and water. They reduce flood risk downstream, purify drinking water, lock up carbon and slow the spread of wildfires.  

Burning creates a crust on the surface of peat which increases the speed of water flow across it. This reduces how much water the peat soaks up and causes it to run off into rivers, increasing the flow and raising levels. Damaged peat bogs also affect the quality of water, which can lead to increases in the costs of cleaning up drinking water, and higher water bills. 

In addition, peatlands help counter climate change by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it. Globally, peat habitats store 30% of all soil carbon. When burned, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere.  

Burning on peatland can also result in damage to peatland species and wider peatland habitat, peat soils and peatland ecosystem functions. Peatlands are home to rare and endangered species. The Wildlife Trust has found that burning contributes to significant wildlife loss due to the damage to habitats. 

Burning is predominantly carried out on land used for grouse shooting and sheep grazing to encourage new heather growth, which they can eat. But burning peat bogs to benefit a handful of species like heather can result in a monoculture instead of a rich mix of bog plants, diminishing the biodiversity of our uplands. 

Scott Blance, Advocacy Manager at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said:  

“If we want to protect our climate, it is time to get serious about stopping the burning of our uplands, which hold vital supplies of carbon. The Wildlife Trusts want to see a complete end to peat burning and sustainable alternatives put in place, such as vegetation cutting to create firebreaks and new areas of heather growth. 

“Peat is a precious resource, and our peat bogs here in the Derbyshire are too important to allow any further damage to take place. Given the ongoing and increasing threat from climate change it is vital that burning on upland peat bogs is stopped.” 

For more information about the impact of peat burning, read our blog.