Apply for a muirburn licence

Muirburn involves setting fire to heather moorlands so that the old heather burns off and new plants can grow for grazing.

Muirburn can be dangerous to the environment so it can only be carried out during certain times of the year.

The normal muirburn season runs from 1 October to 15 April in Scotland. If you want to carry out muirburn outside this period, you need to apply for a licence.

You can apply for a licence to carry out muirburn out of season if you can prove it's for a purpose that cannot be carried out in season. For example:

• conserving, restoring, enhancing or managing the natural environment
• conducting research
• protecting public safety

Visit the NatureScot website for more information on muirburn licensing and how to apply.