Gorse you do

Over on Arctic Fox's blog he's written about a big fire that damaged woodland and says that it was unlikely to have been the result of spontaneous combustion. This set me thinking.

Every year we see gorse fires on the cliffsides. If I thought about them at all, I'd probably have thought they were natural, as in they just happened. Considering that idea now it seems unlikely so I did a little research.

According to Mike Raine on Notes from the Hill:

Gorse burning has been a longstanding tradition in Wales, deeply rooted in land management and rural culture. This practice, often referred to as swailing, involves controlled burning of gorse, heather, and other vegetation to promote new growth, manage landscapes, and reduce wildfire risks. 

Gorse burning in Wales remains a complex issue, intertwining history, ecology, and modern land management. Whether seen as a necessary tool or a problematic tradition, it highlights the ongoing conversation between conservation and agricultural heritage. As debates continue, one thing is certain: fire has shaped the Welsh landscape for generations, and its management will remain a crucial topic for years to come.

Farmers and landowners can burn heather, grass, bracken, and gorse from 1 October up until 15 March but they need a licence to do so outside the burning season in Wales.

There's even a government paper on it.  

However gorse fires started deliberately and without control are a major problem for the fire service across the country.

So now you know all you need - and probably more than you wanted - to know about gorse fires.