Gorse burning

 

Running from November to March gorse burning is an annual sight across the forest, it's a main feature of heathland management and conservation, apparently it has several fauna and flora benefits. I don't know, man. I'm quite convinced by Monbiots' description of conservation in Feral 2013 as keeping land in a state of heavily managed degradation. As I've previously said, lovely as it is, very little about the forest is natural, rewilding it has to be a better course.

Gorse burning

 

Continuing my regular theme of the curated forest; another vital yearly maintenance activity is burning the gorse (Ulex). Around the forest gorse and heather are burnt ostensibly to generate new growth that'll benefit conservation projects, and to reduce the risks of wild fires; but also to keep in check colonisation by gorse, which would become invasive if left to their own devices. 

Feel the burn

Gorse burning continues in the New Forest, flames lick at and quickly consume the dry Gorse as the closely monitored wall of fire moves across the land sending up plumes of smoke to dissipate amongst the shifting clouds.  The burning season which starts on the first working day of November is rapidly coming to a close, so the race is on to get it all done by the last working day of March.