UPDATE: MAY 2022
Since we began using our Bracken Bruiser (see original post below), we are delighted to report that through continually bruising the bracken we have greatly enhanced the bio-diversity of the grassland in a short period of time.
The images below show the positive results. It’s also worth noting that we were unable to follow the process in 2020 due to staff furlough, which makes today’s results all the more impressive.
Wildflowers after Bracken Bruising in Higher Marsh
original blog: september 2018
Recently we have bought a bracken bruiser.
Bracken was originally a woodland species but has expanded its range as it is very invasive and grows vigorously and tends outcompete other plants. Now it occurs in a wide range of habitats in the UK. It is becoming a noticeable threat to our wildflower meadows through its invasive nature.
There are a number of problems connected with bracken:
– It provides a haven for sheep and deer ticks which can cause disease in livestock and humans such as Lyme Disease – Bracken can reduce area available for grazing livestock
– At certain times of the year (late August to early Autumn), usually in hot years, bracken releases carcinogenic spores to livestock and may have may have a negative impact on human health
– It encroaches upon important wildlife habitats such as grasslands and heathlands
Bracken bruising usually takes place in July and August. It is a long -term grassland management programme which requires 3-10 years intervention by a mechanical roller and by hand using a stick to hit the bracken or with a plank on a piece of rope used to trample the bracken.
Some landowners use pesticides but our grasslands are managed with organic principles so we do not spray the bracken with a herbicide. Another reason we do not spray the bracken is because it kills the grass beneath it and it is very costly as there is an abundance of bracken on the estate.
Enter the Bracken Bruiser. This can be towed behind our ATV Gator (All-Terrain Vehicle). The machine has special rollers which are designed to crush the bracken and whipping the stems of bracken with thin metal rollers. This machine has helped considerably to manage our grasslands more easily and efficiently.
The machine makes light work of crushing the bracken and is less labour intensive trying to do it all of the bracken bruising by hand. Bruising the bracken by hand is very time consuming and hard work especially in the height of the summer surrounded by biting horse flies.
However, we still have to do certain areas by hand as the machine is not suitable for steep banks or on sensitive areas like archaeological sites. So during the months of July and August you may see the Dartington Conservation team undertaking the bracken bruising machine or by hand. This grassland management will help to preserve our wildflower meadows, our grasslands for grazing cattle and hopefully keep the numbers down and help prevent the spread of Lyme disease.
We use a reverse drive alpine tractor with conventional roller to carry out bracken rolling.
It works very well.
I have started a bruising programme in open woodland as a result of reading the claims.
However i have just seen this… https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/1726
Are you seeing significant results?
We have been cutting the bracken for 3 years now ,1st in late June and 2nd cut in early august . Its having an effect but we bought a bracken bruiser last week and i am wondering if this will be better ,and when is the best time to do it and also must it also be done twice in the same year , thanks.
We usually do the bracken bruising in July before it spores and you less likely to disturb wildlife, as most ground nesting birds have finished nesting. We have noticed that we only have to bruise the bracken once a year thoroughly. I am not sure if we will be able undertake the grassland management this year due to Covid -19.
Do you think that flattening the bracken with your vehicle before the bruising apparatus encounters the bracken fronds has the potential to reduce the efficacy or intended effect of the roller?
Thank you for your question regarding efficiency and effectiveness of the bracken bruiser roller. The roller is intended to be pulled behind the ATV Gator and is set lower than the vehicle. This is specific piece of machinery that is designed to bruise the bracken and is a tried and tested method.
For instance you do not see land managers and farmers ploughing fields in reverse. So this is why we drive forward with the gator with the roller behind as this is how the machine is designed to function properly. I hope this has answered your question.
No respiratory PPE?????
We bruised the bracken before it started spore. So respirator was not required. It spores in early autumn. We bruised the bracken in early summer. Thank you for your concern and comment.