Farmers and landowners are calling for a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in England and Wales, warning of the risk of igniting wildfires. The appeal, also supported by firefighters and backed by the Liberal Democrats and many Labour MPs, comes as much of England faces further hot, dry weather despite rain in some areas.
Urgent Concern for Farmers
The deputy president of the National Farmers Union, Paul Tompkins, said wildfires were an urgent concern as farmers counted the cost of lost or poor harvests driven by record heatwaves and the worst drought in many areas since 1976. Dry conditions have made vegetation much more prone to ignition through carelessness or deliberate fire-starting.
Tompkins stated: “A stray match or single spark, and months of hard work can be wiped out in just minutes; crops destroyed and harvest ruined, vital machinery and infrastructure damaged and livestock put at serious risk.” He added: “Beyond the immediate losses, there could be long-term consequences for soil health, grassland productivity and confidence of farm businesses already facing significant pressures.”
Call for Retailers and Local Authorities
He called for retailers to remove disposable barbecues from sale, and for local authorities to issue public space protection orders prohibiting the lighting of barbecues, campfires, and camping stoves. Jon Pearce, the MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, also wrote to retailers this week asking them to stop selling disposable barbecues. Most major supermarkets have already halted sales, but they remain widely available in smaller shops, some hardware and DIY stores, and online.
Wildfires Across the UK
Wildfires have affected every region of the UK this year, with more than 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) estimated to have burned. Fires have occurred in the Rhondda Valley in Wales, the Cairngorms in Scotland, and a blaze in Suffolk came within a few miles of the Sizewell B nuclear plant. Fires have also hit the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland, areas near Aberdeen, and the Brecon Beacons national park in Wales.
Additional Measures and Debate
Tompkins also called for more grazing in moorland areas to reduce vegetation, but conservationists are wary of over-grazing in delicate habitats. Some observers have blamed rewilding for increasing wildfire risk, a claim rebuffed by experts who said rewilding could vastly reduce risky conditions. The financier and conservationist Ben Goldsmith pointed to the reintroduction of beavers in some rivers, which has increased the surrounding land’s ability to store water and helped avoid some of the worst drought impacts.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), representing landowners, also called for a ban on disposable barbecues but simultaneously a lifting of the ban on controlled burning, currently banned in England to protect wildlife and reduce carbon emissions. CLA president Gavin Lane said: “Controlled burning is one of several proven ways to reduce the danger. Done properly, it clears the vegetation that feeds a wildfire and slows its spread. Natural England must lift the ban on controlled burning and look seriously at how it could prevent further loss.”
Rain fell in the north of England and Scotland on Tuesday, while thundery showers in Northern Ireland and scattered showers in Wales brought some relief. South-east England was mainly dry despite overcast skies.
