New research shows burning on grouse moors is exposing millions to unsafe air pollution levels

Press release from University of Leeds and the RSPB (19 May 2026)

MOORLAND BURNING FOR UPLAND MANAGEMENT IS EXPOSING MILLIONS TO UNSAFE AIR POLLUTION LEVELS

• In the UK, moorland burning, which is widely used to support recreational shooting, releases small particles of pollution, known as ‘particulate pollution’, which pose a serious health risk when inhaled.
• New research shows prescribed burning led to on average more than half a million additional people being exposed to unsafe levels of particulate pollution, with peak exposure affecting up to 2.3 million people.
• Particulate matter exposure was highest in Northern England, North and East Scotland.
• Particulate pollution (PM2.5) emissions from moorland burning were equivalent to one third of that from road transport.

When moorland is burned, toxic air pollutants are released which can travel far from their source into nearby towns and cities. Inhaling these small particles of pollution increases the risk of heart and health problems in people repeatedly exposed to unsafe levels.

New research from the University of Leeds and the RSPB shows the deliberate burning of moorland for recreational shooting leads to an additional 0.55 million people, on average, being exposed to unsafe levels of this particulate pollution, with areas in the North of England and North and East Scotland most affected. Across the months analysed, these deliberate burns led to almost one in five people in affected areas being exposed to unsafe levels of pollution.

Each year, large areas of moorland across Northern England and Scotland are burned, some from wildfires, but most a result of intentional, ‘prescribed’, burning. Prescribed burning is done primarily to maintain a mosaic of heather-dominated moorland for Red Grouse, a popular gamebird, which feed on the young shoots and nest amongst older plants.

Building upon previous work by the RSPB which estimated the area of prescribed burning carried out each year in the UK, new research by the University of Leeds and RSPB translates the area of moorland, which is intentionally burnt, into the impacts on air quality for surrounding communities. The paper is published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

In addition to negative environmental impacts such as carbon storage and water quality, moorland burning also produces a range of toxic air pollutants including particulate matter (PM). Even short-term, exposure to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5) can cause increased risks for heart and lung health. Scientists estimated the daily emissions of PM2.5 from moorland burning from 2017-2022, covering mostly prescribed burning but also wildfires. They then modelled how emissions from these burns would spread due to weather and atmospheric conditions.

The results revealed the emissions of fine particulate matter generated by moorland burning were equivalent to almost a third of those produced by road transport across the UK (30%). Between 2017/18 and 2021/22, moorland burning generated 1,300 tonnes of particulate matter per year, around 1.5% of the total British anthropogenic primary PM2.5 emissions. The areas where PM2.5 emissions were highest were Yorkshire and Humber, North-East England, East Scotland and North Scotland.

Scientists then identified the impacts specifically attributable to prescribed burning by focussing on a period where wildfires accounted for less than 5% of the area burned (Oct 2017- Apr 2018). They combined satellite data and a regional air quality model to estimate the impacts of prescribed burning on air pollution and to calculate the regions of the UK where people were exposed to pollution. On days where prescribed burning occurred, on average, an additional 0.55 million people were exposed to PM2.5 levels above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit. Across the whole period, an estimated 2.3 million people were exposed to PM2.5 concentrations above the threshold due to prescribed moorland burning. This is almost 1 in 5 people in the affected regions (19%).

To create ideal conditions for Red Grouse, gamekeepers can use prescribed burning as a means of forming mosaics of heather of different ages and structures, which collectively are on such a large scale that they are visible from space. This burning often occurs on internationally important peatland habitat, leading to the loss of stored carbon into the atmosphere, water pollution and increased flood risk, as well as the loss and degradation of habitats for wildlife.

Those undertaking prescribed burning for management of Red Grouse also often claim that it reduces the risk of wildfires, however, this is not fully supported by evidence. Whilst many international landscapes use prescribed burning to manage their vegetation, British landscapes are not naturally fire adapted. This means alternative approaches such as rewetting peatlands can reduce wildfire risk without releasing damaging PM2.5 particles through burning. It is clear prescribed burning represents a significant contributor to particulate matter pollution in areas of Northern England and Scotland. Reducing this pollution will involve updating our approaches to upland management and restoring our peatlands to their natural, fire-resistant state. This will be particularly important as warmer springs and longer dry spells due to climate change increase the risk of prescribed fires turning into wildfires.

Dr Ailish Graham, University of Leeds, lead author said: “Until now, prescribed moorland burning has been seen as a local air quality issue. Our results show that prescribed burning can increase PM2.5 concentrations across much larger regions impacting towns and cities across northern England and Scotland. On days burning occurs, millions of people are exposed to increased pollution with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding World Health Organization air quality guidelines. Discussion continues around UK moorland management, wildfire risk, and peatland restoration. Moorland managers need to consider the air quality impacts of prescribed burning and seek alternative approaches where possible“.

Tom Aspinall, Uplands Senior Policy Officer at RSPB, said: “The environmental impacts that burning has on our precious upland peatland habitats are well-documented and can lead to the devastation of peatland landscapes which are vital both for wildlife and carbon storage. This new research reinforces the need to restrict peatland burning and take steps to restore our uplands.

“This is one of the reasons why we’re calling on the UK Government to introduce a system of licensing to regulate grouse moor management practices across England in line with recent legislative changes in Scotland. Across much of Europe licensing is already in place, and evidence shows that shoots successfully operate whilst being properly regulated and environmentally sustainable. We believe this is a sensible and proportionate way to bring about the change required to allow upland landscapes to flourish and deliver their potential for nature and people“.

ENDS