Swaling on the Chagford Commons

Photographer

Nicky Woods

Category

People Photography - Environmental

Company

Nicky Woods Photography

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2023

Country / Region:

United Kingdom

This image was taken as part of a project exploring the agricultural community on Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. Swaling is a practice used to control overgrowth and create optimal conditions for plants and wildlife to thrive, by controlled burning of gorse and heather. This method of land management has been used for over 5,000 years and is still in practice today. During the winter months, the commoners gather to burn sections of land. Benefits include providing better habitats for ground nesting birds, reduced risk of wildlife, and allowing new plant growth to come through.