As bracken is cited as a major reason for managing the site with cattle it’s worth looking at just what it does and what our attitude should be. First thing to say is that bracken does not produce spores in this region. Whether or not this could ever change is an interesting speculation but not relevant as things stand. The spores of bracken, where they are produced, can cause problems and there are issues about them getting into water supplies. But here this does not apply.In the Peak District it reproduces vegetatively, not via spores.
Bracken does have a potentially poisononous impact when eaten which is why the DEFRA advice is to keep cattle off the land where there are young bracken shoots. On Blacka this would probably be late May and through June. Conservation grazing advice anyway is normally to graze with cattle in winter months. This should not arise on Blacka as our view is that any cattle grazing is not compatible with the public open space and recreational designation.
There is nothing simple about this issue. One needs to be very suspicious of anyone who claims they know exactly what to do about it.
There are three different attitudes to bracken worth examining.
1 It is an invasive nuisance and every effort should be made to remove it.
2 Despite certain unwelcome features it is best to live with it because any steps to control it are themselves problematic, harsh, invasive, expensive or a combination of any or all of these.
3 Bracken is only here because of the artificial nature of the landscape man has encouraged over many years and its dominance will only be corrected when a more natural and wilder landscape evolves.
Each of these carries with it certain consequences. Discuss!
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