Country diary: As spring bursts into life, all eyes on the Cairngorms barbecue ban | Amanda Thomson
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- Scottish government enacted a bylaw effective 1 April banning barbecues and campfires in the Cairngorms to curb spark‑driven wildfires.
- Cairngorms saw a recent wildfire north of Aviemore that devastated 600 sq m of moorland and pinewoods, underscoring the ban’s urgency.
- Scottish government wildfire strategic action plan reported 241 wildfires last year, the highest count in recent memory, linking the surge to climate‑change‑driven conditions.
- Lek It Be campaign continues to protect capercaillies during their annual lek, reminding visitors to avoid disturbance beyond the fire ban.
- Aviemore and nearby Dava Moor have experienced major fires, with Dava Moor’s fire last year scorching 11,000 ha and killing thousands of wildlife, shaping regional fire‑management policy.
Why it matters: Local hikers and the Cairngorms' ecosystem gain a safer spring as the 1 April ban on barbecues and campfires, introduced by the Scottish government after 241 wildfires last year, curtails spark‑driven burns that threaten moorland and wildlife.
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