Bracken

Wandering home along the New Forest lanes, the woodland edges and verges are lush with bracken in its prime. Tall and adding another layer of green to the landscape, the bracken, although beautiful, poses a significant issue as it rapidly spreads through spores and underground rhizomes. It overshadows other plants and can damage archaeological sites beneath the soil. It becomes a major problem as it encroaches on heathlands, altering habitats and outcompeting rare and specialised plants. The New Forest's unique landscapes are due to the poor acidic soil, but bracken's deep roots can access nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen, enriching the soil and changing the habitat.

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