Latest Information on Swaling on Exmoor
Research student Tom Foreman has recently completed his report on large and small burns on Exmoor. Tom, an MA student at the University of Manchester worked on Exmoor over the summer of 2011 looking at historic burn sites. His research found that the average time it takes for heather to reach burn height (30cm) was between 4 and 10 years, depending on the site. He also found that the size of the burn had little impact on vegetation structure; age and location were more significant effects.
Tom was partly funded by the MacEwan bursary and the Exmoor National Park Authority. A copy of his full report is available by following this link
Swaling
Burning or ‘swaling’ is a traditional form of management, which has been carried out for thousands of years to encourage regeneration of vegetation. It is carried out by moor keepers between the Autumn and Spring when sections are burned carefully on a rotational cycle. These fires are very different to uncontrolled burns and are restricted by law to the period between 1st October and 15th April on Exmoor.
Exmoor National Park Authority is particularly keen to support swaling on Exmoor. Swaling maintains the character of the landscape by rejuvenating moorland plants, which in turn provides grazing for livestock and habitats for wildlife.
Links
The Heather and Grass Burning Code (Natural England)
The Heather and Grass Burning Regulations