NEW MUIRBURN LICENSING SCHEME DUE TO COME INTO FORCE ON 1 JANUARY 2026

A new muirburn licensing scheme is set to come into force, making it an offence to carry out muirburn other than in accordance with a muirburn licence.

Changes to the dates of the muirburn season mean that it will now run from 15 September in any year to 31 March in the following year. It had been anticipated that the licensing regime would be put in place ahead of the start of the 2025/26 muirburn season, but concerns were raised by land managers and organisations such as Scottish Land & Estates about the complex technical requirements and licence application process, particularly the need to prevent muirburn on areas of “deep peat”.

NatureScot has now stated that the muirburn licensing scheme will be introduced on 1 January 2026 and that from this point onwards, a licence will be required to carry out any muirburn on land in Scotland. NatureScot are developing a licence application form which it says will be available this summer. While muirburn licence applications are not currently accepted, NatureScot has information on its website about the steps which can be taken to prepare, including information about surveys and training courses.

The carrying out of muirburn will also need to comply with a new Muirburn Code which is yet to be published. NatureScot consulted on the proposed code earlier this year and responses are now being reviewed.