ABC Wednesday - Bracken

Bracken, an ancient plant going back millions of year, another ancient species, the damselfly, taking  a rest, surely one could not call such a beautiful creature a bug. Some larvae and invertebrates feed on bracken but it is carcinogenic to most mammals. 

The Victorian were rather keen on ferns in their gardens and grew all varieties but perhaps they would not be too keen on bracken with its invasive nature and a propensity to swamp other plants although

foxgloves seem to cope quite well , but as they appear in June the bracken is still of a manageable hight and has

not reached 5-6 foot yet. I have had 'interesting' times on hillsides trying to find the path down to the valley when the bracken it at its hight, not being able to see underfoot or where the path is hiding. It can be a case of tumbling down the hill rather than walking.  At these times it is my least favourite plant, however I can forget all that come the autumn and winter when it has died down and the hills take on their russet brown.

At this time of year the bracken is only a covering, the colouring is still there but it looks best in November

when the sun shines directly upon it, the bright light bringing out its hues.  Although it always

adds another colour to the pallet in a view. As you see there is a limit to the hight the bracken grows, the Langdale Pikes in the distance having not a fond in view.  The lower peaks

such as the ridge to Helm Crag have an intermittent covering.  The underneath of a leaf of bracken is covered in spores that will spread it offspring on the wind and it is a difficult plant to control. There are many different methods to reduce its spread such as, cutting, burning, ploughing or herbicides. Another way is during winter encouraging livestock

into the area, such as this pretty bovine the Belted Galloway  They trample down the plants and this allows the frost to penetrate the rhizomes (bracken has creeping roots).  We sure have had a lot of frost this year, down to -19C in this area.

Bounce across to ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with the letter B.