Bright Spark Nominated for First Award

We are delighted to announce that Bright Spark Burning Techniques has been chosen as a finalist in the Helping it Happen Awards 2023, specifically in the Rural Business Award category.

The Helping it Happen Awards 2023 are sponsored by NatureScot, and recognise the role of estates, farms, rural businesses, and individuals who are helping rural Scotland thrive.

For more information visit https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

In light of the efforts to tackle the wildfire at Cannich, Kate Forbes MSP lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament recognising the work of all involved, including our own Iain Hepburn.

That the Parliament recognises the reported actions of all those involved in tackling the recent wildfire incident at Cannich, including firefighters and gamekeepers, who worked tirelessly over several days; understands from reports that the fire is suspected to have been started by wild campers and that it subsequently engulfed land managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, as well as around half of the RSPB’s Corrimony nature reserve; further understands that Jimmy Gibb, of Balmacaan, was instrumental in mobilising gamekeepers with all-terrain vehicles, fogging units and leaf blowers to the scene; commends the reported actions of Iain Hepburn of Dunmaglass, a muirburn training instructor with Bright Spark Burning Techniques, for his use of "back-burning" to protect a recently-constructed boat house from devastation; praises the skill of the helicopter pilots, for their efforts in tactically supressing the wildfire with precision water drops; understands that David Thomas travelled from Glencoe to assist over several days, and believes that the gamekeepers and specialist equipment provided by Dunmaglass Estate and Glenmoriston Estate were instrumental in the containment effort using "back-burning".

New Burning Standards Deliver Immediate Impacts

With the end of the muirburning season having passed, we thought an update on the Muirburn Practitioner Foundation Level training course would be relevant.  So far, in the last two months, we now have 95 trained and LANTRA accredited muirburn practitioners.  The courses have been very well received by all who have taken part and have been supported in a very helpful way by Scottish Fire and Rescue, NatureScot, Scottish Land and Estates, Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Scottish Regional Moorland Groups and the GWCT.

Throughout the summer, we plan to continue our work of bringing this course to all involved in using fire as a working tool. With a presentation in the Scottish Parliament in June along with roadshows planned for the North and West of Scotland and training with the relevant Universities and Colleges (read more)

Latest press coverage of Bright Spark and Muirburn Practitioner Training

Grass fire averted

At approximately 5.30 on Saturday 8 April at Dalmagarry Farm, Moy, a farmer was burning grass and the fire got out of control onto some heather moorland that was part of a rewilding block containing young trees and a large fuel load of heather.  After liaising with the Moy head keeper, Calum Kippen, Bright Spark Burning Techniques instructor raised the alarm, called Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and numerous grouse keepers, who answered the call with all their firefighting equipment.

First on scene was the Moy Estate shepherd who did an excellent job containing the fire with his leaf blower until extra resources arrived.  Three Bright Spark Burning Techniques instructors were quickly on scene and in a joint operation led by SFRS, cut a fire break in front of the fire with two tractors and swipes and then two very experienced grouse keepers backburnt from the swipemark to stop the wildfire.   The quick actions of these grouse keepers saved a catastrophic wildfire from reaching Forest and Land Scotland ground and a nearby windfarm.  The fire was extinguished in under three hours and was stopped from going on to the Moy Estate.  

All this happened thanks to excellent work led by SFRS in conjunction with grouse keepers and shepherds.

Land Managers Training Day 2023

We are pleased  to be presenting the new Muirburn Foundation Level Training which will lead to LANTRA accreditation to land managers at the SLE training day.  This is a course designed and delivered by gamekeepers for gamekeepers.  We will talk about the background to the training, the training and your role in muirburn going forward. Click here

New course sets the standard on controlled burning for land managers

Land managers who carry out muirburn are being encouraged by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to complete a new course that aims to uphold the highest of standards of the practice to protect the environment.Read More