Hands Off Hartlebury Common


Guest

/ #969

2011-07-18 20:33

Hi Steve.An FOI to the Fire Services 3 years ago showed that heath fires were most common on grazed sites.The distinction between natural fires and arson must be made as many heathland plants have evolved with a genetic fire response which raises germination %'s to avail those plants of the immediate nutrients released through fire followed by 20 years of low nutrients within which they thrive and their successional competitors struggle.Unfortunately grazed areas tend to be areas of compaction thus denying reptiles etc escape runs from fire!Intervention has downsides but they are not publicised.I am attempting to say that fire is a natural phenomena as well as a sick entertainment to some BUT that grazing associates with excess fires.Fire confuses the issue without analysis as humans all fear fire and react emotionally but nature has evolved to adapt and benefit from NATURAL fires.