Commenting on new government legislation to prevent the burning of heather and other vegetation on protected blanket bog habitats, Daniel Carey-Dawes, head of rural economy and communities at CPRE, the countryside charity, said: ‘We’ve known for a long time that properly managed peatlands store huge amounts of carbon and water and provide a haven for plant and wildlife. CPRE and the wider environment sector have long been calling for the urgent ban of the burning of peatland. So, today’s announcement is a step in the right direction as Ministers begin to take action to prevent the burning of heather above peatlands and the totally unnecessary carbon emissions they release. We look forward to seeing the detail of how much blanket bog is protected overall. To signal the government is serious on following through on its climate and nature ambitions, a ban on the burning of all peatlands alongside a date for the end of the sale of peat compost should come through with no delay. We need to harness the power of all of our natural allies in the fight against runaway climate change – it's time for the government to step up and unleash the power of peatlands.’
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Posted On: 29/01/2021