This year’s UK record-breaking wildfires show that while farmers and their flocks are essential to protect against the flames, it is often overlooked, the National Sheep Association (NSA).
The group warns that climate change and long-term dry weather have driven an unprecedented fire incident in 2025, but the benefits of grazing and aggressive land management, especially in high altitude areas, are not given sufficient recognition.
Official data shows that the number of sheep in the UK is falling sharply. According to Defra, the herd has fallen by 11% over the past three years.
The NSA believes this fall is most prominent in the highlands. There, environmental schemes such as higher levels of stewardship reduced inventory rates, and more land was diverted to tree planting or reconstruction projects related to carbon credits and offsets.
NSA CEO PhilSocker said: “The results have devastating consequences for nature, vegetation, peatlands, air quality and carbon emissions, and increase the risk of wildfires.
“Fires also put lives, property and public funds at risk when water resources are under pressure due to the large amount of water needed to extinguish burning vegetation and soil.”
The association argues that well-managed grazing can create a patchwork of habitats that slows the spread of fire. He says that as climate change strengthens risks, livestock grazing and aggressive agriculture should be placed in great value as a frontline fire prevention measure.
The NSA also questioned the land management approach that prioritizes rewilders, claiming that small, controlled combustion benefits by reducing fuel loads and preventing catastrophic flames.
Stocker said: “When a fire occurs, farmers and land managers are often among the first people on the scene, working with the fire service to protect people, property and landscape.
“They are free to provide time, machinery, fuel and skills without compensation for the benefit of the wider society.”
He added that this reflects the broader role farmers play in rural resilience, from cutting down stormy roads to rescue filament vehicles.
The NSA welcomed recognition of this contribution of the Welsh government through its proposed sustainable agricultural scheme, including “social payments,” and urged Defra to follow the lawsuit.
Stocker concluded: “The achievement of the Welsh government is that it places importance on the broader contributions of farmers. In the UK, DEFRA must be careful.
“Farmers aren’t just food producers. They are land managers, problem solvers, and often the first series when rural communities are facing emergencies.”
