Guideline for undertaking Burning

If you want to do some heather burning in the Clwydian Range or Llantysilio mountains, you will first need to do the following.

• Does the land on which you want to burn have a burning plan? If not, you will need one. The Heather and Hillforts project can help. Contact Moorland Field Officer, Nick Critchley through the Contact section.
• Burning can only take place between October 1st and March 31st, it is highly recommended for cutting to follow the same dates because of the risk of disturbance to ground nesting birds.
• If the land is protected as either SSSI or SAC you will need consent from the Countryside Council for Wales before burning. To find out if your land is protected in this way search the map on this link.
• Do you want to undertake burning in or near an Iron Age Hillfort or other Scheduled Ancient Monument? To find out if your land is protected in this way go to this link, and use the link to Historic Wales at the bottom of the page. Avoid burning on areas of archaeology such as a Hillforts ramparts or a burial mound, as this can lead to the loss of important archaeology. Damage to a Scheduled Ancient Monument may result in prosecution. To burn in or near a Hillfort or other Schduled Ancient Monument Cadw will need to be informed and extra care will need to be taken. Contact Denbighshire Countryside Service who will be able to offer help in gaining any consent required and may be able to help with your burning. Call .
• Contact your neighbours, keep them informed and take account of their property and interests. Your neighbours may also be planning a burn so there could be scope to work together.
• Try to avoid burning at weekends when the mountains are at their busiest. Do not start a burn before sunrise or continue burning after sunset.
• Make sure you have enough people to control your fire. 4 people minimum is recommended. Denbighshire Countryside Service has a number of staff and volunteers who may be able to help you. Call and speak with one of the Wardens.
• Make sure you have the correct equipment to light, control and put out your fire. Denbighshire Countryside Service have a supply of fire beaters to control fires, and other equipment to help light and put out fires and may be able to help. Call to find out if we can help.
• You must contact the North Wales Fire Service to make them aware of your controlled burn. Call them on and ask to speak to Fire Control. You will need to give them the following information.
  • Location of your fire
  • Start time and finish time
  • Contact phone number for someone on site
• Burning on a slope? Fire will create its own draft and move more quickly up-hill. Be especially careful burning on slopes, always burn downhill and burn small patches, putting the fire out before it has a chance to get out of control.
• Where you burn will depend on the wind conditions, burning when it is too windy will result in a burn travelling too quickly, only burning the tips of the heather plant. Regeneration will be slower if this is the case. If you burn when the weather is very dry the burn may be too hot, burning deep into the peat and not regenerating for a number of years. Try and burn when there is a slight breeze and choose the location of your burn so the wind pushes the fire towards natural or preplanned fire breaks.
• Remember burning bracken with only encourage more bracken to grow. Similarly, burning gorse will result in gorse regenerating although sheep will graze the young shoots. Whenever possible, cut gorse to restrict its growth.
• Never leave your fire unattended and ensure a fire is completely out before leaving site.
• download a printable copy of this guidance  here .
• click here for the full Heather and Grass burning code -  heathergrassburningcodee.pdf

If done properly, a days burning can be enjoyable and easy. Following the guidance above will hopefully make your day run more smoothly.

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