Bracken distribution in Great Britain: Strategies for its control and the sustainable management of marginal land

Bracken is often perceived as a widespread and increasing land management p roblem. The pollen record of a wide range of sites in Great Britain suggest s that the current abundance of bracken is less than or, at worst, equivale nt to maximum historical levels. Recently gathered data also suggest that b racken cover is declining. Results of risk assessments of land use change, and experimental and modelling investigations into the effects of climate c hange are synthesized. This synthesis suggests that there is the potential for increased bracken dominance in northern Britain, spread into new areas at high altitudes, and possible spread into areas with reduced grazing. How ever, this must be set against any changes in the extent of other vegetatio n types at the expense of bracken. There is now a long history of bracken c ontrol, both in Great Britain and globally. Conventional methods of control (cutting, asulam application) are well understood, but many control attemp ts do not result in long-term success, as control is often not followed by aftercare. Bracken control is just one part of the process to ensure a sust ainable use of resources and to maintain biodiversity. A coherent strategy for bracken control is put forward, a necessary part of which includes the restoration of vegetation and subsequent land management which takes into a ccount an understanding of bracken ecology. (C) 2000 Annals of Botany Compa ny.