by Sarah Llewellyn, Parents for Future
Local parents have raised concerns about air pollution from wildfires linked to the moorland burning season on the third anniversary of ‘the day Sheffield choked in smoke’, as new Government figures show wildfires in England set a new record in July 2026.
As the moorland burning season gets underway in the moors surrounding Sheffield, local parents and caregivers have called for action to stop the damaging practice. Every year moorland is burnt for the purpose of grouse shooting in upland areas around the UK, including in the Peak District and North York Moors national parks.
Sarah Llewellyn, Parents for Future Sheffield local group coordinator, said:
“I was dismayed to learn about burning happening again on the grouse moors near Sheffield. Not only does burning release toxic air pollution into surrounding communities, but after the summer of heatwaves and wildfires we’ve just had, the last thing we need is to continue burning and drying out our moors. Moorlands should be wet so they can help stop wildfires and floods.”
New provisional data from the government shows July set a new monthly record for wildfires, while 2026 has been the second worst year on record for wildfires in England, with more recorded only in 2022. The data shows a clear upward trend in wildfires. This year, 1,354 total wildfires have been recorded across England, with 66 of those in South Yorkshire and 33 in Derbyshire. Of the wildfires recorded, 137 occurred on heathland or moorland, a historically wet and boggy habitat that has been drained and burned since the Victorian era, with one reason being to boost the numbers of grouse for shooting.
Three years ago, on the 9th of October 2023, people across Sheffield were angered when smoke from days of moorland burning blanketed the city in smoke. The highest levels of air pollution that day were recorded at Lowfield Primary School. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution and were exposed to high levels for several hours. Former City Council Leader Tom Hunt has previously called for an end to the practice of moorland burning, stating that there is a noted increase in hospital admissions from fires and that the council receives many reports from residents who say moorland burning makes their asthma or breathing difficulties worse, including children.
Parents For Future Sheffield, along with Parents For Future High Peak, have been campaigning against the practice since 2024, and have been collecting signatures on a petition that they plan to deliver to Defra. Llewellyn, who lived just around the corner from Lowfield Primary at the time, became angry that something that was done for the purpose of sport could harm her young child. The group advocates for the protection of moorlands, because healthy moorlands store carbon, prevent wildfires, and act as a natural flood defence.
Michael Kenyon, member of Parents For Future Sheffield, said:
“The health and futures of our children matter far more than a sport for the wealthy. I want to see the government take action to protect our moorlands, to stop the needless air pollution, and harness their ability to store carbon and prevent wildfires and flooding. We’ve just experienced the hottest summer on record and must do all we can to protect our kids.”
Notes
- Parents for Future is a parent-led climate movement, formed in 2019 by a small group of mums. Parents for Future is the biggest parent climate movement in the UK — and growing fast. With a network of over 30,000 supporters and nearly 50 local groups, we focus on creative, peaceful campaigning and building resilient community.
- Parents for Future’s community of parents and caregivers demands a safer, healthier, fairer world for children everywhere. Its members and local groups have long campaigned to stop Rosebank, the largest undeveloped oil field in the North Sea, holding protests and events all across the country over the last three years.
- Parents For Future Sheffield & High Peak: Stop Burning Our Moors petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-burning-our-moors-protect-our-kids-not-grouse-hunts
- Data from the University of Sheffield showing the air pollution impact from moorland burning on the 9th October 2023 https://orda.shef.ac.uk/articles/report/_b_Impact_of_Moorland_Fires_on_Sheffield_Air_Quality_on_9_b_sup_strong_th_strong_sup_b_b_b_October_2023_b_/24356629?file=42774169
- Sheffield City Council Leader calls for ban on moorland burning https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-67642698
- Provisional wildfire statistics for England, 2010-2026 www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-wildfire-statistics-for-england-2010-to-2026
- The Guardian: July 2026 was the worst on record for wildfires, data shows https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/08/july-record-wildfires-england-data-shows
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