Following my Westminster Hall debate on moorland burning, lots of my constituents, and others, got in touch to ask questions about this practice and it’s effect on the climate and ecological emergency. I put these questions to peatland expert Richard Lindsay. You can watch the Q&A below.

What is heather burning and why do people do it?

What is peat and what are peatlands?

What is the environmental effect of peat burning on biodiversity and the climate emergency?

Why might burning lead to more flooding in places like Yorkshire?

Does burning affect the mosses and can the mosses recover?

What evidence is there to suggest that burning has a direct effect on the water quality?

Do managed burns reduce or increase the likelihood of wild fires?

What relationship should we have with our moorlands? Is their a better way of managing them?

How much repair is needed to restore damaged moorlands?

What does re-wetting our peatlands actually mean, and what are natural solutions to climate change?

People say the science isn’t clear and that burning is a benefit. What would you say to that?

Is their anything else we should know about peatlands?