Environmentalists condemn moorland burning on grouse shooting estates

Landowners are still being allowed to burn moorland on grouse shooting estates in the UK, despite a Government pledge to phase it out.

The practice is designed to encourage the growth of new heather shoots, creating more attractive habitat for grouse.

But environmentalists say it damages the peat underneath, risking the release of harmful greenhouse gases.

And they allege that the Government is delaying any action to ban it because of their support for the grouse shooting industry.