Wildfires - when close becomes a bit too close

its hard to accept a total no when the landowners are still burning the hillsides to shoot grouse

Indeed, and muirburn *must* be stopped.

Which I totally believe in. But mainly because of the monoculture it generates (and coming a very distant second, the aesthetic). And also killing an animal for sport and pleasure - I'd rather no one killed animals for food too, but that another level. 

But .....locally the national park and emergency services have gone out of their way to praise estate workers for their "essential 'muriburn' skills" in tackling the fires this last week, working alongside the emergency services with their specialist equipment. And....it pains me to say this... the muriburn areas of the moor are less decimated by the fires than the wooded and rewilded areas. Now, you could make a very good case that's because it's in a permanent state of devistation - but less of it was burnt this week by the wild fire and it's hard to make a case that it hasn't. 

Sadly, I think events like this week only strengthen their case in terms of stopping change to happen and banning muriburn....which I find incredibly depressing to write. 

Muirburn IIRC is included in the licensing conditions .  There used to be a code of conduct that was roundly ignored.  Muirburn may reduce wildfire risk but it comparison to the devastation it causes ......?

I am sure that the estates will ignore the licensing provisions on muirburn as they have ignored the voluntary code

https://www.nature.scot/doc/grouse-and-related-licences-frequently-asked-questions-faqs

Drove over the Dava today for the first time since the fires. I've never seen burning on that scale in Scotland before. Some bits still smoking.

And someone had a campfire just a few mikes away at Loch Vaa last night...

Big tent and gazebo.