Scotland: Fighting the Silent Tide of Bracken on Mull
Picture: Scottish Farmer
See the article in The Scottish Farmer for a view of the threat that bracken poses on Mull. This serves to emphasise the importance of keeping the ability to apply Asulam by helicopter, the most effective control method in remote areas. See the previous post on this subject.
I've got pictures from back in the 1950s/early 60s of bracken control trials on Mull - sadly with only limited success. And the problem has only got worse! The threat of losing asulam doesn't help. Perhaps its time to get more heavy-footed cattle back on the hill??
Heavy-footed cattle - now there's an idea. My view is that the part played by cattle in shaping our moors and hills is not given enough recognition. A bracken control role is only part of it. In addition to feet, they offer a big mouth with an appetite for different vegetation, and their dung is attractive to many sorts of invertebrates.
I've got pictures from back in the 1950s/early 60s of bracken control trials on Mull - sadly with only limited success. And the problem has only got worse!
ReplyDeleteThe threat of losing asulam doesn't help. Perhaps its time to get more heavy-footed cattle back on the hill??
Heavy-footed cattle - now there's an idea. My view is that the part played by cattle in shaping our moors and hills is not given enough recognition. A bracken control role is only part of it. In addition to feet, they offer a big mouth with an appetite for different vegetation, and their dung is attractive to many sorts of invertebrates.
ReplyDelete