Merton’s taking part in the London Wood Burning Project this winter to raise awareness of the harmful effects of wood burning, and are supporting the first ever Clean Air Night on 24 January.

After transport, wood burning stoves and coal fires are the single largest source of the pollutant ‘PM2.5’, tiny particles that – once inhaled – can increase the risk of a stroke, asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and dementia.

It’s estimated that around 4,000 premature deaths occur each year in London due to long-term exposure to air pollution, of which about 284 are attributable to domestic wood burning. To learn more about wood burning in the borough visit the Council’s Smoke Control and domestic wood burning pages,