THERE is no such thing as unattended swaling as reported in the Tor Gorse Fire piece (April 18).
Swaling is the traditional method used by commoners to control the spread of coarse grasses and aggressive plants such as western gorse. It is positive management with commoners at the scene. An unattended fire is just that.
There is now a huge spread of western gorse and rank grasses on many commons thanks to livestock limits imposed by Defra knows best. This will increase the need for swaling, which provides benefits such as more even grazing of the common, better plant diversity, and protection for the more palatable grazing areas . It will also prevent the build up of dry vegetation, which would eventually result in a massive burn one summer drought.
Swaling can sometimes go wrong, but is never unattended.
G Swayne
Secretary
Mary Tavy Commoners' Association