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Pushing Back the Silent Invader - SAC Workshop on Bracken Control

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N71
Published: 14 Jun 2011

Bracken fern (opens in new window)

Bracken on the woodland fringes, where it is meant to be, can be attractive and a valuable host plant for butterflies. The bracken spreading across Scotland’s hillsides is an all together different story with problems for farmers, stalkers, walkers and orienteers.

“Controlling bracken is an ongoing problem for land managers”, says Niall Campbell, Senior Consultant for SAC in Oban. “It reduces the area of grass available, causes problems at gathering when sheep can be hidden and can be a haven for ticks.”

Bracken grows upwards from an underground network of rhizomes. These not only help the plant advance across the landscape into new territory they also provide a food store which makes the replacement of any damaged or destroyed fronds an easy matter. Controlling bracken is a long term task.

SAC Oban is holding a practical, on-farm workshop to give land managers an update on the best bracken control options available for their own situation. There will be demonstrations of bracken crushing and weed wiping as well as two helicopters in attendance, courtesy of bracken spraying companies MFH and PDG helicopters. Recent suggestions that the EU might remove the highly effective herbicide Asulox from the approved list makes a knowledge of alternative strategies very important. The workshop is a good opportunity for all land managers to assess the latest techniques available.”

The workshop will take place at Corrylorn Farm Kilninver, just South of Oban courtesy of Peter Menzies, on Tuesday 28 June at 1.30pm. It is funded by the Scottish Government as part of its Biodiversity and Conservation Advisory Activity.

“Bracken can so easily take over if farmers sit back”, urges Niall Campbell. “In addition to the loss of grazing and the disease risk posed by ticks farmers should also think about the legal side of things. There are EU rules on keeping land in good Agricultural and Environmental Condition ( GEAC) and if bracken has grown over land they previously  claimed as productive for their Single Farm payment, they risk penalties.”

Staff from the SAC Oban office will be stressing the need for communities to work together to control bracken. Anyone interested in attending should contact Oban SAC office either by telephone 01631 563093 or email FRBSOban@sac.co.uk.

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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