Every autumn here a chunk of my time is occupied by bracken control.

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Left unattended bracken will increase in area by 4% annually, covering pasture, denying light to the plants underneath the canopy.

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Pigs offer the best method for long term effect, digging out the roots, incorporating mulch into the soil and dropping natural fertiliser as they go. However, now the herd has gone I'm left with the brush cutter.

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Bracken thrives on acidic soil. At some point I will test adding lime pellets to an area to measure the effect of changing soil pH. That's a slow process, but should also unlock nutrients for other plants.

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The new cattle herd will help, they will trample the bracken, especially when fed from hay bales on the dead material.

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Success looks like more trees, bushes and tall pasture plants.