The social science of wildfires is an important field of research focusing on the social implications of fire; of social dynamics before, during and after fire; as well as the multiple scales of human interaction with fire (individual, local, community, institutional, governmental).

The changing climate and land uses in the UK present potential increased risk, or at least uncertainty, to the wildfire hazard. The issue of fire in the UK is one which involves multiple stakeholders, such as private and public land owners, service providers (water utilities), forestry commission, and fire and rescue services. Very little is known of social perceptions in the UK to wildfire and managed/prescribed burns, so this project hopes to obtain a nuanced understanding of how different groups experience, understand and react to fire; as well as the social dynamics that occur in mitigation and prescribed burning. This will supplement the gap in understanding of the different parts of social perception, especially as an example of somewhere non-fire prone, facing new possible risk.