Launch of the Heather & Grass Burning Code 2008 for Wales

The new Regulations and Heather & Grass Burning Code for Wales came into effect on 6 May 08. Full details are available to download from the Welsh Assembly Government website.

Information (reprinted from the Gwlad article)

The amended Regulations revoke the Heather and Grass etc. (Burning) Regulations 1986 in relation to Wales. They re-enact some provisions of the previous Regulations and also prescribe new provisions governing the burning of heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse and vaccinium (bilberry and similar species).

The Assembly Government has carefully considered the comments made during the consultation exercise and as a consequence the amended Regulations will only permit burning between 1 October – 31 March in upland areas (defined as land in the Severely Disadvantaged Area of the Less Favoured Area); and between the 1 November – 15 March elsewhere in Wales.

At all other times a licence to burn must be obtained from Divisional Offices, but these will only be considered in exceptional cases, for example where there are specific conservation measures.

The Regulations are aimed at farmers and others who wish to undertake burning on their land. The Regulations will be accompanied by three publications:

• a code entitled The Heather and Grass Burning Code for Wales;
• a Burning Management Plan for Wales;
• a Technical Guidance document which supports the Burning Management Plan.

The main differences to note from burning practices in England are that in Wales, burning plans are mandatory and there is a requirement for burners to notify others with an interest in the land on which the burning is to take place, or land adjacent to it, of their intention to burn. These measures are intended to further aid and promote responsible burning in Wales.

This is a regulatory requirement and anyone who intends to burn in the next burning season, should obtain a copy of the new Heather and Grass Burning Code for Wales 2008. They should also complete the new Burning Management Plan for Wales in order to meet the cross compliance requirements.

For further information about these changes please,

email: Planthealthandbiotech@wales.gsi.gov.uk for policy related issues

or the local Divisional office for operational matters on 029 2080 1162

back to information