GAMEKEEPERS are embracing the new Muirburn Code – and are sharing their expertise with fire crews who battle wildfires across Scotland’s countryside.

Sunday, April 15 marked the official end of this year’s muirburn season (October 1 to April 15) – a controlled burning technique which has been used for centuries on moorland to regenerate Scotland’s famous purple heather on its hills whilst protecting against wildfires.

This season, estate owners and gamekeepers have been working to a revised Muirburn Code, launched by the Scottish Government in September 2017, in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that controlled burning is conducted safely and responsibly.

Controlled seasonal burning and cutting is one of the most effective means of reducing the risk of damage from wildfires by providing breaks in continuous moorland cover and reducing the fuel load.

Iain Hepburn, head gamekeeper at Dunmaglass Estate, and also a part-time firefighter with the SFRS, has been engaging with firefighters to share best practice when it comes to tackling wildfires on moorland.

Iain said: “We fully support the new muirburn code and recognise the importance of controlled burning on moorland to help in the fight against the risk of wildfire. One of the most effective methods of tackling wildfire is a technique known as ‘back burning’ whereby you control a fire by lighting another in a strategically placed position which then burns towards the wildfire and in turn puts out both fires. This requires a lot of skill and knowledge and the practices we use on the estate can then be shared to the benefit of fire crews and communities in rural areas across the Highlands.”