Farming today: bracken control
Farming today reports on the challenges of bracken control after the removal of Asulox in the UK and Europe. Innovative Farmers network have begun trailling non-chemical approaches to management, including the use of cattle to trample bracken.
One of a group of 8 farmers across the north of England involved in the trial, Lake District farmer, Catherine Penfold shares her experiences of using 20 Belted Galloways as a means of bracken control. She reports upon measurement, bracken averaged from a metre to a metre and a half and after encouraging the cattle to the bracken, hopes to monitor the changes over time.
The goal of the pilot is to gather more scientific data on the effects of cattle trampling bracken, with test and control areas to compare the outcomes. The impact of bracken management on biodiversity is also a value of interest, as explained by the Butterfly Conservation Trust.
Martin Wayne, the Butterfly Conservation Trusts lead for the North of England commented on some of the virtues of bracken providing a much needed habitat for some of the UK's rarest butterflies such as the High Brown Fritillary. They lay their eggs in violets surrounded by bracken litter however the habitat needs management. There are negative indicators for habitat quality which would provide less benefit. The aim is to monitor over time as the pilot continues to mark any changes in biodiversity during and after the bracken management trial.
Link to listen to the full episode: Farming Today - 22/08/2024: Meat imports; bracken controls; fishing industry - BBC Sounds (Time reference: Start - 4:23 End - 8:52) Released 22/08/2024 and availability one month after release.
Bracken management in a post-Asulox world
Now Asulox is no longer a consideration when it comes to bracken control, differing management options and alternatives are now needed. NFU discussed this 'post-Asulox world' in a recent update, discussing FERA's new guidance, the re-appraisal of bracken and a comment from Simon Thorp, Coordinator of the BCG.
To see the full article, go to: Bracken management – essential information – NFUonline
Battle to control bracken (Landward)
Featured on an episode of Landward, they highlighted the growing threats, problems and challenges faced by farmers and land owners to tackle this rapidly growing problem. Huge swathes of the Scottish Countryside are covered in bracken, presenting issues for many upland farmers.
Iain McLarty (of Little port farms by St Fillans) reported 60-70% of the hill ground on his land was invaded by bracken and since the removal of asulam, is faced with further challenges to eradicate the plant. He also discussed problems in gathering sheep, stating "By the time you get to mid or late July, it's easily five, six feet in height in some places. Sheep tend to run and hide when you're trying to gather them in... and you finish up maybe getting 50% of the sheep" creating welfare issues with animals potentially missing shearing and vital parasite control treatments.
An interesting comparison between asulam sprayed ground and non-sprayed clearly showed a big difference in bracken control, and with the withdrawal of the chemical, Iain stated "options are extremely limited".
Not only hill farmers are affected however, with bracken, a fast spreading native but toxic fern, blanketing out other plant species and affecting biodiversity. As discussed by Katrina Candy, Scottish Heather Trust, it affects access, tourism and constitutes a health risk.
For the full episode, visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0020f53/landward-2024-episode-12 (timestamp: 19:00-23:20)
Scottish Forestry triples bracken control grant rate
Scottish Forestry officials have confirmed the payment will rise from £225 to £720 per hectare, in a bid to increase the country's woodland creation levels, as reported by Forestry Journal. The triple grant rate increase concerns the manual and mechanical bracken control in Scotland, in hopes of helping crofters and farmers wishing to establish or expand woodland and integrate trees into their business. Mairi Gougeon stated “Ultimately, this will help in getting new trees in the ground, resulting in a welcome boost to our yearly woodland creation targets”.
With the removal of asulox from the bracken control toolbelt, mechanical methods such as machine, hand rolling, cutting or whipping will need to be implemented instead. The growth of bracken is an increasing concern, and the support for new woodland creation could see these two issues tackled together.
Forestry.gov.scot mentions Scotland's very ambitious woodland creation targets rising yearly – reaching 18,000 ha of new woodland by 2024/5. But to achieve these targets, a collective effort from government, landowners, forestry and environment sectors, communities, farmers and crofters will be needed.
The increase in support for bracken control also comes in advance of the Woodland Creation Summit which is to be held in Perthshire on 12th December.
For more go to:
Scotland triples bracken control grant for woodland growth | The Scottish Farmer
Scottish Forestry triples bracken control grant rate | Forestry Journal
Conservation & bracken
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust have launched a project to relocate Black grouse in Northern Pennines to the North York Moors. This location was selected largely due to landscape-scale habitat improvements that have included bog, health and scrubland restoration as well as bracken control that has helped to restore bilberry and heather moorland. For more on this, the full article can be found here or a BBC news article piece can alternatively be found here.
Ambitious plans have also been put forward to 'reset' the Exmoor landscape for the good of habitat, climate change and species diversity. It is hoped that this restoration may help to re-establish lost species such as the Marsh Fritillary butterfly and Black Grouse. Plans spanning twenty years also incorporate tree regeneration, planting on areas such as steep valleys with bracken, with the hopes that they will act as 'nurses' for trees and aid in growth. To read more about this ambitious challenge, the news article can be found here.
Black grouse in Northern Pennines to be relocated to North York Moors
Surging tick population poses health risks
The Moorland Association have released an insightful news article relating to the health risks that increasing tick populations can cause. Reports from gamekeepers and moorland managers have seen drastic increases, with Simon Gurney commenting "We are seeing people and dogs absolutely covered in ticks as soon as they step out of their car in some areas. The risk of disease is alarming".
There's not only the Lyme Disease threat to humans but also Louping-ill virus to Sheep and Grouse, nesting chicks with tick infestations and to that of pets when out walking the dog.
Management of vegetation has long been used to limit the habitat of ticks and bracken, as reported by the UK Health & Safety Agency, which have established links between bracken growth and an increase in the abundance of ticks.
Simon Gurney also reported "Letting huge areas of bracken, bramble and ferns grow unchecked is a recipe for disaster. Farmers, gamekeepers and rural workers are all reporting a rise in cases of Lyme disease" which is adding to alarming statistics that has seen Lyme Disease case reports rise by a third.
Bracken management not control - a sign of the times?
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust highlight the importance of bracken control and the increasing concerns to the environment, human health and wildlife.
An excerpt reads: "The decision to reduce the toolkit available for vegetation management as well as policy support for extensification and rewilding is evidence of the wider trend within land management policy for reduced management and fewer interventions. Management has become synonymous with intensification whereas in fact it should be considered part of caring for our land. A worrying sign of the times".
For the full news post, go to GWCT Blog News
Bracken Boom linked to Cancer
Airborne bracken spores have long been linked to cancer, and with the rate of bracken cover advancing, it's becoming an area in need of further and more up to date investigations. Exposure to higher levels in the countryside are a worry to walkers, farmers and forestry workers with risk to both themselves and livestock. Bracken can be highly toxic and airborne bracken spore concentrations in both rural and urban settings had been suggested, along with the development of a more 'coherent policy' when it comes to controlling bracken.
Further info:
from: Bracken boom's link to cancer | The Herald (heraldscotland.com)
The latest on Bracken links to Cancer (2020-2024)
Horses & Bracken Control?
Could Crunchie, Teasel and Twinkletoes really have an impact on controlling bracken? This trio team of horses was brought in to tackle the growing problem of bracken on the Malvern Hills and was noted for its lower environmental impact when compared to other methods such as tractors.
For the full article go to: Horses brought in to control bracken on Malvern Hills - BBC News