Fire and smoke.

  The spell of recent dry weather has meant that the local gamekeepers have been busying themselves on the moor burning off the old heather. Today was no exception, time is limited for this activity which encourages the re-generation of healthy young shoots of heather which helps the population of Red Grouse.
From my studio window this afternoon I could see the plumes of smoke on the skyline and as they were quite close I took a wander to get some photographs.

Its a dramatic sight as the clouds of smoke drift skywards as the dry heather burns fiercely. The burning is controlled by sectioning the moor into blocks which once burnt leave the patchwork effect of the typical Grouse Moor.

Well worth the effort to leave my studio as I have future plans for paintings featuring the operation of the upland moors of Teesdale.