Ireland: Upland heath burning extension criticised by Greens

This report at Green News ie expresses concerns of environmentalists about extensions to heath burning of uplands. The new regulations would allow an additional month of hedge cutting in August and an additional month of burning in March:

https://greennews.ie/public-consultation-upland-burning-bo…/

Burning of vegetation in March would critically endanger birds that are just starting to breed and will also impact bees that depend on the gorse as a food source, according to BirdWatch Ireland. (link):

https://greennews.ie/conservation-ngos-citizens-heritage-b…/

In the Isle of Man the ‘burning season’ is September to mid March but licences are granted by DEFA outside this period and indeed in 2017 the IOM Fire and Rescue Service issued a statement on this during May (news report link):

https://www.three.fm/…/fire-service-warning-over-heather-b…/

Image: Fire earlier this month at Saggart, South Co Dublin, that required fire appliances from three Fire Stations (Photo Dublin Fire Brigade)

Bernard Moffatt

Celtic League