On Eyam Moor in Derbyshire, a quiet struggle is unfolding between invasive bracken and young saplings planted to restore woodland. The dense fern, once valued for bedding and thatch, now threatens to overwhelm new trees on a steep-sided clough.
Armed with a long blade, a conservationist navigates the humid, fly-infested jungle, slashing bracken around each sapling to give it light. The goal is to help oaks, hawthorns, rowans, and junipers grow tall enough to shade out the fern.
Bracken's spread has accelerated since the herbicide Asulam was banned due to health risks. Toxic to sheep, it now dominates pastures and former woodlands. Yet its presence often signals where forests once stood, making it a target for reforestation efforts.
Lower down the clough, mature trees thrive, suggesting the potential for recovery. With manual intervention, the hope is that saplings will eventually win this race, returning the land to mature woodland.
