Publication - Minutes

Scottish Bracken Working Group minutes: June 2025

Published: 19 May 2026
Directorate: Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change, Farming and rural
Date of meeting: 12 June 2025

Minutes from the meeting of the group on 12 June 2025.

Part of

Bracken: Scottish Working Group

Attendees and apologies

Steph Davies, Scottish Government
Sarah Cowie, NFUS
Louise Roger, HES
Katrina Candy, Heather Trust
John Armour, Scottish Government
Jeff Waddell, NTS
Jason Hubert, Scottish Government
Jacquelline Tait, Scottish Water
Eleanor Kay, SLE

Secretariat

Jackie Hughes, Chair, SASA
Brian Eardley, Scottish Government
Kirsty Hutchison, NatureScot
Romy Strachan, SASA
Beth Hadley, Scottish Government

Guest speakers

Richard Scales, Scottish Government
Rosie Everett, SRUC
Robin Pakeman, Hutton Institute

Apologies

Colin Edwards, Scottish Government
Andrew Gouldstone, RSPB
Nicky Downing, NTS

Items and actions

Welcome and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Those new to the group were given the opportunity to introduce themselves.

Minutes from the previous meeting had been agreed and can be accessed on the website.

All actions will be complete on circulation of the summary of the 2024 SEFARI Tick Management workshop, circulated to group members with these minutes.

Scottish Government updates

The SG intends to conduct a survey of bracken control measures this winter, this will be run alongside statutory pesticide usage data collection on grassland and fodder crops, which gathers information from ca 600 farms. This pesticide usage survey has, in the past, included information on Asulox use, and the supplementary questionnaire will ask about bracken extent and current management practices. The questions will be drafted and shared with this group before finalisation.

The SG is also pursuing information about chemical control of bracken in forestry and will share information gained with the group.

The SG has secured funding to tender for an external contractor to produce a Scottish bracken mapping layer, the current timeline for completion is the end of this financial year and the secretariat will keep the group updated.

Action: Pesticide use survey questions to be drafted and shared with this group before finalisation.

Summary of output from the Strategic Framework workshops

Prof Robin Pakeman gave a summary presentation of the output of the strategic framework workshops and questionnaire which he facilitated on behalf of the UK Nature Agencies. The main challenges and next steps focussed on; addressing evidence gaps in relation to control methods, addressing evidence gaps in relation to understanding the impact of bracken, and the need for developing and delivering comprehensive guidance to support land managers.

Kirsty gave an update on the next steps in relation to production of a strategic framework, which is designed to fulfil the requirements for guidance and support for land managers based on the current knowledge base. Commissioned work is being funded by NatureScot, Natural England and the Welsh Government and will be completed by the end of March 2026.

Members discussed the workshop/questionnaire output, noting the key challenges and evidence gaps and agreed there was a need to prioritise the proposed actions and consider what mechanisms and funding were available to address them.

There was concern around the loss of expertise and existing data due to the Bracken Control Group no longer being operational. It was suggested that the Heather trust could be a suitable website to continue to host this information publicly and ensure it isn’t lost from the public record.

There was general discussion around the impact of perceived reduced hill stocking in relation to bracken encroachment, with consequential increased wildfire risk and the role of agri-support in relation to stocking levels. There was also discussion of the potential of modelling/predicting spread of bracken once the extent of coverage has been assessed.

As the full report was published the day before this meeting, members had not yet had an opportunity to review it. Members were asked to consider the report in relation to how they think the recommendations should be prioritised, and this group, and their own networks and organisations, may be able to support the next steps against these priorities.

Action: Group members to consider presentation, read report and send comments on prioritisation of next steps, and thoughts on mechanisms for addressing challenges, to the secretariat to be collated and considered. Please send these no later than 10 July.

Overview of earth observation/bracken mapping methods and challenges

Richard Scales from SG’s Geospatial team presented an overview of Earth observation (EO) and bracken mapping methods/challenges.

Earth observation data is available frequently and with extensive coverage. Use cases are evolving all the time and it is used widely, examples of use in Scotland include mapping wildfires, monitoring the health of protected areas and detecting illegal waste. The most relevant use in relation to bracken is land cover mapping. Given sufficient training data, we can train machine learning models on what different habitats look lie to create a map of land model type.

SG has secured funding to tender for an external contractor to map the presence of bracken in Scotland. There are two possible approaches: create a bespoke bracken map or include bracken as a category in an existing land habitat map. There are advantages and challenges with both approaches. SG will work with the contractor to identify the best option and ensure that the methodology is developed in such a way that SG can replicate to give repeated analysis in future years.

The Living England map (England only) includes a bracken class and JNCC/Northern Ireland Environment Agency are progressing work for NI. SG will work with colleagues in these areas to access existing knowledge and expertise.

Use of bracken in peat free compost

Rosie Everett, SRUC, gave a summary of a ClimateXChange research project on examining the supply, suitability and sustainability of alternatives to peat for use in Scottish horticulture. Phase 1 of the project was to understand gaps, challenges and opportunities. It is complete and the report can be circulated to this group, once published. Phase 2 will focus on key alternatives. The potential use of bracken in peat free compost is raised regularly. This group invited to provide information on viability/barriers/concerns regarding the possible introduction to horticulture supply chain. Secretariat will circulate their contact details.

2025 Stakeholder event

Chair discussed the previously proposed in person Scottish-focussed stakeholder event at SASA with Ministerial attendance. The aim of the event would be to facilitate knowledge exchange and experience sharing in relation to bracken and its control.

Action: Date to be confirmed with Ministerial Private Office, format to be developed by secretariat and options sent out to the group to finesse, including suggestions for speakers

Terms of Reference

Terms of reference to be reviewed for this short-term working group, taking into account reducing member attendance at meetings and to ensure that the group works effectively and continues to meet expectations. Expected that group will continue until March 2026 to coincide with the production of the bracken mapping layer and the publication of the Strategic Framework.

Action: Secretariat to collect views via correspondence on whether the group should continue in its current form and how the terms of reference may need to be updated.

AOB

Kirsty noted that as part of the ongoing discussions related to current agri-environment schemes, NatureScot have requested that the capital payment rates for bracken treatment are considered and updated. We would like to be able to recalculate the rates to fund robotic cutters.

Summary of Actions