Sheep key to reducing risk of wildfires

THE record number of wildfires across Britain this year highlights the “urgent need” to better recognise the role of grazing animals and active farming in reducing fire risk, according to the National Sheep Association (NSA).

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There is little doubt that climate change and prolonged dry weather have fuelled unprecedented wildfire incidents in 2025.

But the NSA believes the benefits of grazing and active land management, particularly in upland areas, are being “consistently overlooked” in policy and public debate.

Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA, which represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK, said recent figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that sheep numbers in England have fallen by 11% in the past three years.