I also remember racks of them in forestry..... back when forestry was properly managed.... ya know, fire breaks and tidy....
Bit of both really. The fires in south Wales Vslleys are usually arson. Others may be from utter brainless "I don't care a fig about anyone I am having my fun" types with e.g. disposable BBQs......
Maintenance: I remember a couple or three years ago looking at a big stand of forestry on Leckwith Hill near Cardiff, the firebreak was not maintained and was growing natural regenerated scrub and small trees, to make it worse a power line runs up the middle of it. Would need heavy kit and/or a big herd of goats to sort it now.
I am told that quite a bit of forestry in mid/west Wales e.g. the Brechfa was from when the Forestry Commission compulsory purchased land just after WW2, forced farmers out and planted onifers. They are less useful now we import such wood and plantations are managed a lot less..... so higher fire risk.
Carmarthenshire does mow the verges, but the more urbem local authorities seem not to. (I guess we have a lot of relatively cheap persons with tractors who can do it.)
It seems barking mad not to cut, however the problem is now that cutting is also a risk if there's a spark from the blades hitting a stone, perhaps the landowner does not have a water bowser. If they missed cutting before it was proper dry, they may now be in a "damned if you do, damed if you dont" situation...... In which case a digger to create a firebreak trench is prob the best option.....
Local vigilance is about the only thing. Sadly.
GC
