An update to bracken guidance

The UK nature conservation bodies alongside the UK national historic advisory bodies have now published revised guidance on bracken management on the NatureScot website.

The conversations continue on how we effectively manage this dominant species, which can have detrimental impacts on human and animal health and wider biodiversity.

In light of the asulox ban, it is now more important than ever to keep up the momentum with research and innovation to bring appropriate, workable solutions to the many landscapes and livelihoods that are impacted. If you missed our recent bracken webinar with Simon Thorp, you can catch it again at the bottom of this page.

The publication of the guidance precedes a stakeholder survey planned for this autumn.

The full statement circulated by Scottish Government is below.

With the herbicide Asulox no longer available to treat bracken, there was a need to update best practice guidance on bracken management, which was previously heavily weighted towards chemical treatment.

The UK nature conservation bodies, (Natural England, NatureScot, DAERA Northern Ireland, Natural Resources Wales) and the UK national historic advisory bodies, (Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Communities Northern Ireland and Cadw) commissioned revised guidance on bracken management, which has now been published on the NatureScot website: https://www.nature.scot/plants-animals-and-fungi/ferns/bracken

This preliminary guidance promotes best practice in bracken management across the UK and will be updated as further information emerges. It contains information on the range of different manual and mechanised treatment methods available with associated example case study information. A Bracken Management Plan template has also been included, to help land managers plan and monitor bracken treatment over a five year period.

Waterfalls to waders – a successful Heather Trust Update Day

Landowners, keepers, managers, NGOs and many others joined us for an excellent day at the High Force Hotel and Moor House site in Upper Teesdale on Tuesday 25th June.

We were delighted to welcome almost 50 people to the event which kicked-off with dinner and ‘stargazing’ at the High Force waterfall the evening prior (not many stars but fascinating nonetheless!). The day itself began with presentations from Katrina Candy on the Trust’s priorities and strategy and Prof Rob Marrs who verbally painted the picture of the history of Moor House.

Heading out on to the moor, the group heard about the wealth of research which has, and continues to be, carried out on this unique site. Rob Marrs, Natural England’s Martin Furness and researcher Dr Dave Baines led the group through myriad of research projects with interesting findings – not least the breeding success of red grouse and waders on the moor, compared to other moors in the locality.

Following lunch back at the hotel, we enjoyed a lively heather burning presentation from Dr Andreas Heinemeyer and an interactive presentation by David Jarrett on the Trust’s own research project, Heather Futures. The event closed with Q&A led by Rob Marrs and thanks from our Chair, Viv Gill.

Are you joining us for our Update Day?

On Tuesday, 25th June, we're holding our annual Update Day and site visit, this year at Moor House in the Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve.

'Moor House - the home of upland research', the theme for the Update Day, promises interesting discussions from a host of knowledgable speakers, including Rob Marrs, Andreas Heinemeyer, Martin Furness, Katrina Candy, David Jarrett and Dave Baines.

We'll be discussion a plethora of topics, including grouse and wader research, heather burning, carbon research, grazing and tree planting, not to mention bracken! The recent Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act will no doubt make its way in there, too, having affected so many moorland management issues.

A buffet lunch will be served at the High Force Hotel, and if you're planning to travel on the Monday, there's also the unique opportunity to join us for a supper and stargazing event out at the High Force Waterfall, where we'll be guided by a local astronomer.

The event is ideal for gamekeepers, land managers, conservationists, estates, ecologists, foresters and more. If you're passionate about moorland habitats and want to keep your knowledge up to date, then join us. You can find out more by following the link below.

See you there!

Moor House - the home of upland research

Our Update Day is kindly sponsored by the Joseph Nickerson Charitable Trust, the support of whom we are very grateful.