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Wales: Heather Burning

​The current Regulations came into effect on 6 August 2008 and they govern the burning of heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse and bilberry (and similar species).

 

The 2008 Regulations also changed the dates of the burning season in Wales to:
• 1 October – 31 March in upland areas (defined as land in the Severely Disadvantaged Area of the Less Favoured Area); and
• 1 November – 15 March in other parts of the country.

To burn at others times, a licence must be applied for from Divisional Offices, but licences will only be considered in exceptional cases.

Website for Downloads
 

Information can be downloaded from the Welsh Government website in English (and in Welsh) and includes:
• a leaflet - Heather & Grass Burning in Wales
• The Heather and Grass Burning Code
• Burning Management Plan for Wales
• The Heather and Grass etc Burning (Wales) Regulations 2008
• Supporting Technical Guidance
• Application to burn out of season

Burning Plans
It should be noted that in Wales that burning plans are mandatory and there is a requirement for practitioners 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.

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