Scottish Bracken Working Group minutes: September 2024

Attendees and apologies

Chair: Jackie Hughes, Scottish Government

Attendees

• Tabitha Acton, Soil Association
• Katrina Candy, Heather Trust
• Darrell Crothers, SEPA
• Stephanie Davies, Scottish Government
• Nicky Downing, Scottish Environment Link
• Brian Eardley, Scottish Government
• Nadia Flaherty, Scottish Land and Estates
• Andrew Gouldstone, RSPB
• Elizabeth Hadley, Scottish Government
• Kirsty Hutchison, NatureScot
• Alanis Maciver, Scottish Government
• Alasdair Macnab, NFUS
• Louise Roger, Historic Scotland
• Romy Strachan, Scottish Government
• Rebecca Swinn, Soil Association
• Jacqueline Tait, Scottish Water

Apologies

• John Armour, Scottish Government
• Sarah Cowie, NFUS
• Colin Edwards, Forestry and Land Scotland
• Jason Hubert, Scottish Forestry
• Eleanor Kay, Scottish Land & Estates
• Simon Thorp, Bracken Control Group (comments submitted by correspondence)

Items and actions

Welcome 

The chair welcomed everyone to the third meeting. Those new to the group were given the opportunity to introduce themselves. The minutes from the previous meeting were accepted and had been published on the website.

Matters arising 

Primary contact point for the secretariat is now Elizabeth Hadley (Elizabeth.Hadley@gov.scot). 

All actions from previous meetings have been completed.

Any additional feedback about the guidance, or additional case studies to be sent to Natural England at: bracken@naturalengland.org.uk. It was noted that it may be worth including a contact point on the NatureScot webpage.

The draft data collection questionnaire to be used in the strategic framework collection had been shared by Alanis. It was noted that feedback should go directly to Kirsty Hutchison by 27th September.

Bracken guidance and strategic framework 

NatureScot gave an update on the strategic framework, including timelines, budget constraints and involvement of four nations colleagues. With the budget available this financial year, the focus will be on awarding a contract to deliver stakeholder engagement workshops and issue and collate information from the bracken questionnaire. Funding is not yet secured for the second phase of the strategic framework project, but bids will be made with the aim of completing work in 2026.

It was asked that if any members were aware of additional bodies, particularly small Scottish groups, who should be included in data collection from the questionnaire, they should notify NatureScot so these groups can be added to the stakeholder list. 

Action: NatureScot to share current stakeholder list with the group. 

A contractor will deliver the strategic framework survey once the group has fed into the questionnaire, and then NatureScot will share it with stakeholder groups and members.

NFUS indicated that they would both encourage participation in the data collection and campaign for funding from environment departments across four nations through their UK networks.

Bracken mapping layer 

Scottish Government officials gave an update on the work to develop a mapping layer. Whilst this work is being progressed it is proving more complicated than initially expected.

Officials are writing a scoping paper to define what’s required/possible and this will be shared with the group.

NFUS asked about the potential of lidar use for mapping. Officials indicated that they were aware of the potential utility of lidar in relation to improve farm and environmental outcomes and would continue to monitor the technology available to them. 

NFUS also raised separate concerns around peatland mapping and council verge maintenance for bracken control. It was confirmed that both issues were outside the scope of the group.

Heather Trust raised the issue of public education on problem of bracken and the perceived and real risks with access/safety. 

Bracken control trials 

Presentation: Rebecca Swinn and Tabitha Acton, Soil Association

The Soil Association presented an overview of a series of recently initiated Innovative Farmers field labs. These trials are assessing bracken management using livestock, comparing environmental outcomes with mechanical control and in uncontrolled plots. There are currently eight sites in the north of England, although partners are sought in other areas, including Scotland. Funding is currently secured until Spring 2027.

Heather Trust asked about health risk to livestock and public perception issue due to lack of data/evidence to prove there isn’t a food chain impact.

The Soil Association clarified risk is only when bracken is eaten, and this is a rare occurrence if food/grazing for cattle provided within the area with bracken. Limited evidence that livestock routinely eat the bracken when more palatable food sources are available.

NFUS expressed importance of tracking livestock movements and checking for rate of disease within hill-farming stock.

NFUS also asked about whether greater monitoring of biodiversity of bird and animal species before and after the trials was possible, and suggested the possibility of NFU (UK) exploring how they could support finding additional funding to extend the scope and duration of these trials.

Heather Trust raised the issue of ticks and tick-borne disease (TBD) from using livestock to control bracken. It was noted that increasing bracken cover was identified as a key issue at a recent Moredun tick and TBD conference and suggested discussion with Moredun would be beneficial.

Action – Secretariat to contact Mordun and check actions of that workshop and identify if there are areas that could inform the work of this group.

Roundtable and next steps 

Officials confirmed that, following discussion with the Heather Trust and the BCG, there is an aim to host an event to bring stakeholders together to present and discuss bracken management strategies. The aim is to plan a meeting for next spring, after the nature agencies data collection and consultation period for the strategic guidance is complete, to facilitate wider discussion and knowledge exchange. Mr Fairlie was supportive of this event and will be invited. This group will have the opportunity to input on the plans for this event. 

Next steps involve hearing wider views from land managers/ knowledge exchange, and an invitation to Mr Fairlie to attend a meeting, perhaps in January.

Close

The Chair thanked everyone for their participation and noted the next meeting will take place in December.

Summary of actions:

• NatureScot to share current stakeholder list with the group
• secretariat to contact Moredun and check actions of that workshop and identify if there are areas that could inform the work of this group