For many years, Asulox has been a critically important and effective component of bracken management and, with authorisations for aerial applications, it also provided a control option for bracken on difficult terrain.
However, Asulox is no longer available for use in the UK or in the EU, meaning that physical and mechanical control methods become more important.
New guidance
details different control options such as cutting, rolling and hand-pulling, and reflects the land management requirements of nature conservation bodies and historic advisers.
The guidance has been produced to promote best practice in bracken management across the UK, in order to protect biodiversity and the wider landscape.
The control of bracken is important in order to enhance habitat quality in bracken dominated areas, maintain the natural and historic environment and protect the welfare of people, livestock and wildlife.
The new guidance can help you identify areas where bracken management should be undertaken and provides guidance on different control methods, areas in which they would be suitable and how they can be used in combination with one another.
Case studies are also provided, demonstrating the use of different control methods in a range of situations.
Re-appraisal of bracken
Fera has also produced a , which can be used to assist with the planning and delivery of a five-year bracken treatment plan.
The , the stakeholder group representing those with an interest in controlling bracken and of which the NFU is a member, is calling for a re-appraisal of bracken and further research into how to mitigate the threats it presents to human and animal health, as well as wider biodiversity.
Simon Thorp, Coordinator of the BCG says: 鈥淏racken is notoriously hard to manage, and the BCG welcomes the new best practice guidance on bracken management that has been published by NatureScot, on behalf of all the UK nature conservation and national historic bodies.
鈥淭he new guidance is a very useful start to the development of further approved management techniques to be based on more evidence and research. It covers many aspects of bracken control using physical methods.鈥�
Plans are in progress to develop a further strategic management framework to help land managers identify land use that is sustainable and appropriate for control techniques in a particular area, taking into consideration factors such as soil type, topography, climate, hydrology, ecological and historic designations and priority species and habitats present.