Illegal gorse burning - Bad idea at wrong time

IT may seem incongruous to criticise those who start illegal gorse fires as Europe’s airlines are greatly curtailed by a volcano but there is not much we can do about one and we are responsible for the other.

Burning gorse has been a traditional way of controlling the nuisance for generations but it is no longer acceptable and is illegal between March 1 and August 31.

This does no more than recognise that vast swathes of habitat has disappeared and what is left must be protected. It also recognises the threat posed to property and in the Kerry instance, a national park. The region’s reputation as a safe place for wildlife is already under threat because so many reintroduced sea eagles have been poisoned. Illegal gorse fire will undermine it further.