Farming is a major industry on Dartmoor, with more than 90 per cent of the land used.

Overgrown vegetation on open moorland restricts public access and, during the warmer months, presents a significant risk of wild fires.

They can be extremely difficult to control and thus can threaten the moor’s wildlife and animals grazing on it.

To help prevent this land owners, and on common land the commoners carry out controlled burning – known as swaling – of  vegetation. It clears dead growth and thus makes way for new.

Nationally controlled burning takes place between November 1 and April 15. But on Dartmoor there is a voluntary code which means swaling ends on March 31, protecting the ground for bird nesting.