The move by Defra will see the burning ban extended from September 30 to cover 676,628 hectares of deep peat up from the current 222,000 hectares. Defra said any licences for prescribed burning will only be issued where there is a clear need, for example, to reduce wildfire risk. Environment Minister Mary Creagh said: "Burning on peatland releases harmful smoke ruining local air quality and damaging the precious ecosystems found in these iconic landscapes. “Defra continues to view controlled burning as a ‘last resort’ option," he said. Controlled burning is the only reliable, proven method other than grazing that moorland managers have available to control moorland vegetation fuel loads.