Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 30th September 2025.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Amendments to the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021

2. The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021(2) are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 5.

Amendments to regulation 2

3. In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a)after the definition of “burning season” insert—

““less favoured area” means any area of land shown within the areas coloured pink and blue on the map marked as “Less Favoured Areas (England)”, dated 21 August 2025, held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs but does not include the land coloured pink in the Isles of Scilly;”(3);

(b)omit the definition of “designated site”;

(c)in the definition of “upland area”, for ““Map of Upland Area in England”” substitute ““Less Favoured Areas (England)”, dated 21 August 2025,”.

Amendments to regulation 3

4. In regulation 3 (prohibition of burning on peat over 40cm deep except under licence)—

(a)in the heading, for “40cm” substitute “30cm”;

(b)in paragraph (1)—

(i)for “designated site” substitute “site which falls within a less favoured area”;

(ii)for “40” substitute “30”.

Amendments to regulation 4

5. In regulation 4 (licensing of burning), in paragraph (4)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (a), after “natural” insert “or historic”;

(b)in sub-paragraph (c), for “risk” substitute “impact”;

(c)omit sub-paragraph (d);

(d)after sub-paragraph (c), insert—

“(e)for research or educational purposes.”.