Muirburn Code - Under Revision March 2025

A revised version of the Muirburn Code was introduced by section 18 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. The consultation stage is now closed. A consultation draft has been prepared in collaboration with stakeholders (the Muirburn Code Working Group).

To view the draft, visit NatureScot’s website: Draft Muirburn Code (March 2025)

For more information visit the Muirburn Licensing pages on the NatureScot website.

Muirburn Training 

Section 12 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 states that a ‘person intending to make muirburn on land to which the licence relates must complete a training course approved under section 13A before making muirburn’. 

Approved course details and training providers are available via the Lantra website: Muirburn Practitioner Foundation Course.

Supplementary Information

The collection of supplementary guidance is currently under review and will be published when finalised.

Peat Depth Survey for Muirburn

Identifying areas of peatland and non-peatland is fundamental to applying for a muirburn licence. This is because the licensable purposes are determined by whether an area is or is not peatland. Peatland is defined in Section 22 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 as ‘land where the soil has a layer of peat with a thickness of more than 40 centimetres’.