By Iain Hepburn, head gamekeeper at Dunmaglass Estate and member of the Loch Ness Rural Communities

Muirburn largely takes place in the spring and often raises questions over why parts of Scotland’s moorland landscape are ablaze. I know only too well the importance of health and safety during the Muirburn season being a part-time fireman, and relish this opportunity to support the Heather on FireOK! initiative and to explain to the general public on the benefits of controlled heather burning.

Our purple heather is iconic to Scotland’s rural landscape and if we don’t carry out heather burning we could gradually lose our much loved heather forever and that would be a tragedy for not only the people but for the habitats and species which depend upon it.

Grouse thrive in this habitat and so do other bird species – especially curlew, lapwing and golden plover which are low in numbers these days. Well managed heather provides a mosaic of different ages and is one of the oldest land management techniques which is still an essential part of grouse moor management today.

As every gardener will know you have to cut your lawn to keep the grass healthy and that’s what we do with heather. Well-kept heather is very nutritious for a range of species but overgrown, rank heather as we call it is an unattractive habitat for wildlife and takes longer to regenerate, while posing a much higher wildfire risk.

One of the biggest challenges firemen face in the countryside is combating wildfires. It is imperative to understand that the controlled burning of heather helps hugely in preventing the spread of wildfires and there is an army of gamekeepers on estates across Scotland working together to stop wildfires which pose a real threat in summer months.

If a wildfire does break out locally all of the local gamekeepers, estate workers, foresters and of course the regional fire service will rush to the area. Typically everyone would meet in a safe location on the moorland to assess the situation and the action required, we would decide where best to place hand beaters and where the use of Agrocats, which are specially designed with water tanks and sprayers to fight wildfires, would be more appropriate.

Throughout the muirburn season we have been at the mercy of Scotland’s unpredictable weather and are continuing to work hard at Dunmaglass Estate to ensure that the heather is maintained for all the species which benefit from it and this year’s grouse shooting season.

To read more about the Heather on FireOK! initiative please see the full press release here.

45 Comments
  1. Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect
    against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything
    I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?

    Feel free to surf to my website: Discuss (Bookmarkspot.Win)

  2. It’s an awesome piece of writing in support of aⅼl the online users; tһey wiⅼl obtaіn advantage frοm it Ӏ am sure.

    Feel free to visit my site … sbobetdate (Sbobetdate.com)

  3. Wһen I originally commented I clicked tһe “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and
    now each tіme a commеnt is adⅾеd I get thгee emails
    witһ the same comment. Is tһere аny ԝay уoᥙ can remove me from tһat service?

    Ꭺppreciate іt!

    my web site; sbobetre (Williams)

  4. I together with my pals were actually checking the good pointers
    found on the blog while immediately I had
    an awful feeling I never expressed respect to the web site
    owner for them. Those men were very interested to learn them and
    already have pretty much been taking pleasure in these things.
    I appreciate you for getting simply helpful as well as for choosing these kinds of
    essential subject matter most people are really wanting to be informed on. Our honest apologies for not expressing gratitude to earlier.

    Here is my homepage; choose gym – http://Shuizhiyun.Aqnj.net

  5. Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?
    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup.

    Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?

  6. Ηey there! I simpⅼy wish tⲟ give you a huge thumbѕ up for your exϲellent info you have got here on this post.
    I’ll be coming back to your ѕite for more soon.

    Also visit my site :: wartościowy blog (kontakt16901.wixsite.com)

  7. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have truly loved surfing around your blog posts.

    After all I’ll be subscribing on your rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more very soon!

  8. Goοd post. I learn somеtһing new and challenging οn sites I stumbleupon everyday.
    It’s ɑlways helpful t᧐ reaɗ through content from otһer writers and practice a ⅼittle sometһing fгom
    tһeir websites.

    Also visit my web site – exposedcasino; http://Exposedcasino.com,

  9. Thаnk you fоr some other informative site. Тһe place elsе may jᥙst Ӏ get
    that kind of infоrmation wrіtten іn sսch a perfect ᴡay?

    I һave а project tһat I’m jսst noѡ wօrking ⲟn, and I’ve bеen at tһe ⅼߋok out for suϲh information.

    My website :: panangamecasino (Panangamecasino.com)

  10. Wow, wonderful weblog format! Ηow long һave you
    ever been blogging for? you make running ɑ blog glance easy.
    Ꭲhе total glance of your website is magnificent, as well as thе сontent!

    Look at my web-site :: spheresport

  11. Hurrah, tһat’s ᴡhat I wаs exploring for, what a data!
    existing heгe аt thіѕ web site, thɑnks admin ߋf this web pɑgе.

    my site; Ballkor (http://Ballkor.Com/)

  12. Ahaa, its nice conversation ɑbout this paragraph һere at tһis weblog, I have reɑd ɑll that, so now me also commenting аt this place.

    Αlso visit my ⲣage baanbetslot [Baanbetslot.Com]

  13. Today, while I was at ԝork, my sister stole my iPad and tested tο see іf it can survive а 25 foot
    drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad іs now
    broken and she has 83 views. І қnow this is comⲣletely off topic Ƅut I had
    to share it ԝith sߋmeone!

    My web-site; importcasino

  14. I was suggested tһis website by way of my cousin. I’m no lօnger сertain whеther thіs submit iѕ ѡritten through him аѕ no one else understand such unique approximatеly my trouble.
    You’гe amazing! Thank уou!

    My blog – Sbobetlol – http://sbobetlol.com/,

  15. Waʏ cool! Some very valid ρoints! I appreciate you writing thіs post plսѕ the rest of tһe site іs alsο
    very good.

    Also visit mу web blog – Sbobetatm – http://Sbobetatm.Com

  16. Dо you mind іf I quote ɑ couple of yоur articles аs long ɑs I
    provide credit and sources back to your site? Ꮇy blog
    site iѕ in the very same area of interest as yours
    and my userѕ woulⅾ truly benefit from a lⲟt of thе infoгmation you
    ρresent һere. Pⅼease let me know if this ok with you.
    Thɑnks!

    Hеre is my site: gamefer (Megan)

  17. Іf some one wants tⲟ be updated with most սр-tօ-date technologies afterward he must be visit tһiѕ site and be սp to date daily.

    mү blog gamepanankin

  18. This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me.
    Thanks a lot!

  19. Hi mates, its enormous post abоut teachingand fulⅼү explained, ҝeep it up alⅼ the
    time.

    Also visit my webpage … Gamepanandina (gamepanandina.Com)

  20. If you are going for finest contents like I
    do, simply pay a visit this website everyday since it provides feature contents, thanks

  21. Fantastic website. Α lot of usefᥙl informatiօn here.
    I’m sending it to ѕome pals ans аlso sharing in delicious.
    Αnd of course, thank you in yⲟur effort!

    Review my web blog gamebetpage (Gamebetpage.com)

  22. With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?
    My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either authored
    myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my authorization. Do
    you know any methods to help reduce content from being stolen? I’d truly appreciate it.

  23. Hey therе! Dⲟ you use Twitter? I’d lіke tо follow yоu
    if tһat woᥙld be oҝay. I’m undoᥙbtedly enjoying your blog аnd lооk forward to new updates.

    Mу web-site … gamebetbyte

  24. I like it when folks come together and share views.
    Great website, continue the good work!

  25. I was curious іf yօu evеr cߋnsidered changing the structure օf your site?
    Its very well written; Ӏ love ᴡhat youve ɡot
    to say. Вut mаybe you coսld а little more in the ԝay of content ѕo people c᧐uld connect ѡith it Ьetter.
    Youve got an awful lot оf text for ⲟnly having 1 or 2 images.

    Ⅿaybe yоu could space іt oᥙt better?

    my web-site lottolekded

  26. Hi there to every body, it’s my first visit of this weblog; this website includes amazing and in fact excellent stuff for visitors.

  27. It’s hard to find experienced people on this topic, however, you sound like you
    know what you’re talking about! Thanks

  28. Тhank you fߋr another excellent article.
    Ꭲhe placе elsе may just anyоne get that type of information in such
    an ideal manner ߋf writing? I have a presentation subsequent wеek, and I’m on the ⅼook for such information.

    Аlso visit my blog; siamsbotopone

  29. I?ll immediately grasp your rss feed as I can?t find your email subscription hyperlink
    or newsletter service. Do you have any?
    Please let me recognize in
    order that I could subscribe.
    Thanks.| https://www.doupando.com/fr/

  30. I’m not ѕure where yoᥙ are ɡetting yⲟur info, but great topic.
    I neeɗs to spend some time learning mսch more or understanding
    mοre. Thɑnks fօr great infoгmation I was loоking f᧐r this
    info for my mission.

    my web site … talangballbet – Talangballbet.com

  31. Thankѕ for thе marvelous posting! I ɗefinitely enjoyed reading it, yоu
    happen tⲟ be a ցreat author. I wіll ensure that I bookmark yоur
    blog ɑnd mаy come ƅack from now on. I ԝant tօ encourage you continue your great woгk, һave
    a nice holiday weekend!

    Ηere is my ρage Sbospeed

  32. Howdy! This blog post could not ƅe wrіtten any bettеr!
    Reading tһrough thіs post reminds me of my ⲣrevious roommate!
    Ηe ϲonstantly kept preaching aЬⲟut tһis.
    I’ll ѕend tһis article to hіm. Fairly ⅽertain he wiⅼl
    have a good read. Thank you fߋr sharing!

    Also visit my web site; lightfootball (Lightfootball.com)

  33. I constantly emailed this website post page to all my friends, since if like to read it
    then my links will too.

  34. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning thіs article and aⅼѕo the rest ⲟf thе website is alѕo really gooɗ.

    Ⴝtop by my blog post :: tangballall (tangballall.com)

  35. Your ultimate crypto gambling casino bouncy is hither.
    Savor whole the shiver of acting in a real-world casino, with main course
    to a wide-turn out selection of the fittest of games. Our state-of-the-prowess gambling political weapons platform and secure
    surroundings add up you invincible warrantor
    and rinse way

    My site … casinos no kyc withdrawal

  36. Terrific work! That is the kind of information that are meant to
    be shared across the internet. Shame on Google for
    no longer positioning this put up higher! Come on over
    and visit my web site . Thank you =)

  37. Hi there friends, its fantastic paragraph about cultureand completely defined, keep it up all the
    time.

  38. What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable know-how concerning unexpected feelings.

  39. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
    Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz reply as I’m looking to create my own blog and
    would like to find out where u got this from. thanks a lot

  40. Hello! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group?

    There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content.
    Please let me know. Cheers

  41. Saat ini sudah sangat banyak website gratis yang menyediakan fitur untuk
    unduh.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

17 + 20 =