National Trust Gorse Cutting (Corfe Common)

With bright yellow flowers and coconut scent, gorse is a much-loved feature of our countryside. It provides nectar and pollen for insects, and nest sites for birds like the yellowhammer and whitethroat.

So why does gorse need to be cut or burned? The National Trust is about to start a programme of burning on West Common, Corfe Castle (from 9 Jan), so here they outline the reasons.

• Gorse is fast growing and spreads quickly.
• Without control it will take over. In the case of Corfe Common, we would lose the nature-rich grassland.
• Old gorse becomes too ‘leggy’ for nesting birds.
• It burns rapidly, making it a wildfire hazard in dry conditions.

Gorse is burned during the winter, before the bird nesting season, and when reptiles are hibernating underground. This minimises harm to wildlife. The burning is carried out by trained people, and planned where possible when the wind is blowing away from the village.

Read more here: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/spyway/gorse—the-burning-question