Swaling will provide more space on Dartmoor

The burning of Dartmoor - or swaling, as it is known - is a traditional land management technique.

It has been used for 5,000 years as a method to control overgrowth on the moor.

Swaling prevents Dartmoor becoming overgrown, giving farmers more open space to graze their animals, and improving access for walkers.

Fire bowsers will control where the fire spreads

Water bowsers are used to create breaks in the flames, beaters are put on standby and the fire service alerted.

Farmers are involved with the process and even put on demonstrations of how to swale safely.

Farmer Maurice Retallick said: "If the gorse isn't controlled, then there is the chance of having a large fire which would damage vegetation and wildlife."

Swaling is good for nature. Many rare ground-nesting birds prefer the shorter, fresher vegetation that grows back after the burn.

The trick is to create a quick, sharp fire which kills off plants above ground, but not below.

Nesting season

Sue Goodfellow of the Dartmoor National Park Authority said: "Swaling produces young shoots for birds and insects to eat and provides taller gorse for cover."

Swaling will be a common sight on Dartmoor until the end of the month when the bird-nesting season begins.

However, anyone seeing a fire on the moor should still report it to the fire service.