Swaling on Rippon Tor

Swaling is the annual burning of the gorse and scrub in order to thin out the old vegetation in order to allow new grass shoots to grow thus providing grazing for the livestock. The first recorded instance of the word 'swaling' comes from a poem written in around 1205AD.

In past years the fires have often got out of hand and today it is done in a more controlled way. All swaling must end before the end of March

In "Large" you will be able to see the flames from the fires.