Bracken Gorge
TOTAL HABITAT
3,000 Sqm
TOTAL COST
£4,000
COST PER Sqm
£1.33
About
Bracken Gorge is a steep sided ravine running between two fields. A stream runs down through the bottom of the gorge, which over the years has cut away deep into the earth.
Along the slopes there is a variety of native trees including Hawthorn and Alder. Where there aren’t any trees, bracken has taken over and covers the banks in a blanket of green in the summer and bronze in the autumn.
Our Work
The first phase of the project has now been completed; we worked with a local contractor to have the area fenced off and ensure that livestock can no longer access the area all year round.
We used chestnut fencing stakes, which are more eco-friendly than tanalised stakes and posts, and included gate access into the area to allow for beneficial grazing managment.
Looking to the future…
We can now begin to start controlling the bracken to regenerate this area back into a beneficial habitat. We will look to use non-chemical control methods such as rolling, cutting & bashing.
The next phase will be to plant trees within the area. The trees will create cover for wildlife, shelter for livestock, reduce surface run-off into the stream and protect the banks from erosion. A range of tree species will be planted that are suitable for the area such as willow, alder, birch and hornbeam.
