The United Kingdom is facing a massive surge in wildfire activity, with the total area of land affected by blazes increasing significantly over the last decade. Critics are now targeting the Department for Environment , Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Mayor Andy Burnham for failing to address the buildup of flammable vegetation on British moorlands.
A six-fold increase in wildfire-damaged land
As the report notes, the scale of the UK's wildfire problem is expanding at an alarming rate, reflecting a broader trend of increasing environmental volatility. Between 2006 and 2015, wildfire-affected land sat at just under 25,000 hectares, but that figure has skyrocketed to nearly 152,000 hectares in the period between 2016 and 2025. This surge comes as leaders like Mayor Andy Burnham face criticism for offering "empty gestures"—such as deploying nuclear-style alarms following the Stourbridge fire that destroyed 19 homes—rather than addressing the environmental drivers of the blazes. With a predicted Super El Nino expected to bring even hotter summers next year, the window for preventative leadership is closing.
The 74% surge in dead heather and flammable grass
The primary driver of these fires appears to be the accumulation of excess vegetation across British landscapes. According to the Moorland Association, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has inadvertently created a tinderbox by reducing cattle and sheep grazing in the uplands. Their data shows that less grazing has led to a 25% increase in highly flammable grass, while the prohibition of winter burns has resulted in 74% more dead heather accumulating on the moorlands.
Critics argue that Environment Secretary Angela Eagle must address these huge volumes of flammable material before the next heatwave.. The current policy of reducing livestock numbers and blocking traditional burning practices is being accused of turning the countrsyide into a massive fuel source for future infernos.
Why York and Exeter scientists favor controlled burns
While Defra officials insist that rewilding reduces wildfire risk, scientific research from major UK institutions suggests the opposite.. Research from York University indicates that controlled burning can actually help keep soil wetter by reducing the amount of vegetation that draws moisture from the ground. Additionally, scientists at the University of Exeter have reported that peat survives wildfires much better in areas where vegetation is kept short through traditional winter burns.
This approach is not an outlier; it is supported by the G7,the European Union, the White House, and the Scottish Government. However, these international standards remain at odds with the current Whitehall trajectory, which continues to push rewilding as a primary solution despite warnings from the National Fire Chiefs Council that current restrictions threaten public safety.
The scrutiny surrounding Natural England’s research
The report raises several critical questions regarding the scientific basis of current UK land policy. Specifically, it questions the integrity of the peer-reviewed paper used by Natural England to justify its near-total ban on burning, following Freedom of Information requests that revealed reviewers struggled to even read the document. Furthermore, there remains a significant dispute over whether Defra’s rewilding claims are actually supported by reality, as the agency’s stance is flatly contradicted by firefighters and the National Fire Chiefs Council.
Finally, the piece asks whether the management of the North is being treated like a colonial outpost, driven by an institutional hostility toward the game shooting that traditionally supports these landscapes. Whether the government will pivot toward traditional management or continue its current path remains the most pressing question for the safety of the British countryside.
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