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Bracken Control
aka "Bracken Bashing"

As practised by
Dartmoor Preservation Association volunteers
(see DPA Bracken & Scrub Project document)

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"Bracken bashing" describes the hitting of growing bracken with sticks. The intention is to bruise the stems near ground level, even splitting them along part of their length, so that they fall over. The purpose behind this is that the plant wastes energy trying to repair itself. Also, if the stem is split, the fern loses sap. Either way, the frond usually dies.

Cutting methods using machines are also used in an on-going experiment to determine whether "bashing" or cutting is best suited to selected sites.

The programme of bracken control is quite active and is followed by the Autumn/Winter programme of gorse control .....

Table 1 - The DPA programme of bracken control, 2008
 

The photographs below were taken on 23rd June 2008 at one of the DPA's three land-holdings on the moor - High House Waste (the others being Sharpitor and Swincombe, examples of different landscapes and habitats). The purpose is to uncover the remains of a medieval farm.
 

Behind the safety gear - Barry, with hedge-trimmer

Tanya with fork & Derek with brush-cutter
cutting and clearing in the lane

The cleared lane looking down the slope,
with four volunteers working in the field on the left

Outside the cleared lane - a clear margin of about 3 meters

Jane

Rachael

John

Unofficial group photo, at lunch

Sort-of-official group photo
From left: Paul, John, Rachael, Derek, Jane, Tanya & Barry

Looking along the lane, up the slope

Part of the medieval farm, reclaimed from the bracken

A photo to show the difference
between cleared and untouched bracken

Going home - Barry (& hedge-cutter), Chris & Paul
in a cleared field

Photos taken 25th June 2008 at Shaugh Moor

Keith

Anne, Margo (dog), Caty, Paul & John
Long term monitoring of a 1-meter quadrat
for bracken cover and other flora

Caty

Paul, Anne, John & Caty, again, assessing the survey results

Paul & Derek (DPA Merchandise Manager Extraordinaire)

Caption competition
"I think the other Keith has scived off" or .....
"Where are we having the debriefing session?"
Answers by email to
 

There is always room for another volunteer - the old adage that "many hands make light work" is very true and all help is appreciated, even if you can't make every scheduled day. Some volunteers turn out for most dates while others do what they can. Have you thought about "putting something back"? These folks have and they enjoy their days out making Dartmoor a better place .....

Links to .....

• Bracken on Dartmoor - describing the problem of its spread, involving toxicity and ticks

• Ticks on Dartmoor - describing their occurrence and associated health risks e.g. Lyme disease