Farmers Flock to Discuss Bracken Control

July 2009

Farmers with grazing rights on Beacon Hill, West of Knighton, gathered at an event organised by Radnorshire Wildlife Trust (RWT) to see a demonstration of machinery suitable for bracken management and to discuss the pro's and cons of different bracken control methods.  Rob Podmore, RWT Estate Worker, gave an insight into the bracken management programme on the RWT reserves and Sue Buckingham, RWT Heather, Pillwort and Pools Project Officer for Beacon Hill explained about funding for a bracken management scheme.

Bracken covers a quarter of the 4667 acre common and is spreading up the hills displacing grazing for livestock; making gathering sheep difficult, as well as smothering heather; a key food for red grouse.  Discussion centred around mechanical management with local farmers, Abraham Wilson and John Lloyd demonstrating both tractor and ATV mounted bracken bruisers kindly loaned by Pete Gotham.  Pete explained how the bruiser damages bracken stems every 175mm causing them "to bleed" which lowers plant vitality and reduces bracken height and vigour in subsequent years, allowing other heathland species to regenerate and provide additional grazing.

The entire site is common land where commoners graze sheep, ponies and cattle as part of their farming system. Land management, past and present, has shaped the vegetation of the moorland with heather dominated dwarf-shrub heath on the upper slopes and species poor acid grassland and bracken on the lower slopes. The site supports typical upland bird species and in the past has been a noted red grouse moor.

The bracken management scheme has been made possible by the generous funding of Biffaward; a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts which uses landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.  Sue Buckingham said: "I'd really like to thank all the people who helped make the event such a success. The Beacon supports rural livelihoods and provides an area of peace and quiet for recreation. The bracken management programme will help sustain livestock farming and improve the biodiversity on the hill." For more information on the programme contact Sue Buckingham on 01597 823 298