Better!
That describes one of our key aims at Coombes Valley. We're working very hard to create better habitats for the diverse life that is abundant on and around our nature reserve.
One of the ways we do this through the summer months is 'bracken bashing'. This week a team of willing volunteers spent a day on the reserve doing that very activity. It's a great activity to take part in if you have any pent up frustrations, as it's all about hitting bracken with a big stick! By breaking or bruising the bracken stem near to ground level we stop it growing. The plant will either waste energy trying to repair itself or will lose sap and die anyway. Problem solved.
But why are we doing it here at the reserve?
Well, the area we worked on was historically a meadow. Over quite a number of years natural succession took place, and this area (the slopes below buzzard bank) very gradually began to turn back into woodland.
We took a decision to return it to it's historical state and this is being done by a number of methods:
Tree felling. We have removed a number of the trees that grew here over the last few decades.
Grazing. If you visit at the right time of the year you may see hardy cattle grazing this area. The cattle are here to tackle some of the tougher plants that grow here now the conditions and light levels have been enhanced. They help us keep for example, holly and bramble growth to a minimum.
Bracken Bashing. If we decided to stop bashing the bracken, it would soon spread and start to dominate the area as it is very aggressive.
By actively managing this area of our reserve we are resetting succession to a lower level. In time this should allow a greater variety of plant life to flourish here, which in turn will benefit other wildllife. Perhaps on your next visit you could look out for some of the flora and fauna that already calls this area it's home. Look out for adders tongue, common spotted orchid or common lizards. They're all here, proving the benefits of active management.
Our volunteer work parties take place year round. If you'd like to take part, please get in touch with us via email at coombes.valley@rspb.org.uk