The Wales Wildfire Board has launched a campaign aimed to educate individuals on the best practices for avoiding and preventing wildfires in Wales called ‘Wildfire Wise’. The Board wants to work with communities to build a healthier and more resilient countryside and to develop a more biodiverse countryside for the future.
In 2023 fire services across Wales attended 1,880 grassfire incidents – this was a decrease of 45% on the previous year with deliberate grass fires decreasing by 1,059 (45%) to 1,301.
The campaign aims to encourage everyone to be Wildfire Wise and commit to simple precautions and a little extra care over the Spring and Summer months when the risk of wildfires is at its peak.
The board also reminds farmers that the burn date deadline is 31 March 2024 and is there for a reason and that is to protect and safeguard the natural environment. Burning outside of this date without a permit is a breach of Cross Compliance and could result in payments including the Basic Payment Scheme or Rural Development land-based schemes being reduced, recovered, or withheld.
For more information:
https://www.mawwfire.gov.uk/eng/newsroom/current-campaigns-and-consultations/wildfirewise/