How to restore our relationship with bracken with 8 modern day uses

The bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is such a common plant, that most of us hardly notice its presence. However, in the past, local people had many uses for this plant, ranging from animal bedding, to a fuel source, thatching for roofs and even as a (controversial) food source. Gathering bracken was a regular activity and it helped keep this highly successful plant in check. Today, in the Ashdown Forest of Sussex, the heathland is increasingly taken over by the invasive bracken. Our local community group in Forest Row is investigating ways to manage the plant, to provide alternatives to the current use of the harmful pesticide Asulox. One of the questions I want to raise as an ethnobotanist: can we revive some of its uses today, so we can restore our relationship with this generous plant?

The success of bracken

Bracken is ancient. It is one of the oldest ferns, dating back to 55 million years ago. It is considered one of the most successful plants on earth. From a human perspective, it is considered an invasive species. Bracken is found on all continents except Antarctica, and in all environments except deserts. Bracken can grow from sea level to more than 3,000 metres above sea level, if the temperatures are right (powo, 2023, Woodlandtrust, 2023). Bracken thrives on acid and sandy soil and is increasingly taking over ecosystems such as heathland. In the Ashdown Forest, bracken is taking over the highly biodiverse heath ecosystem, and invades the habitat of the unique birds of the heath and forest, like the Dartford warbler and the nightjar. On the other hand, bracken provides a good habitat for nesting birds and cover for the movement of other birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. It is also a food source for many caterpillars (RHS, 2023). 

The traditonal uses of this iconic fern

In the 13th and 14th century, Commoners made extensive use of the Ashdown Forest landscape, grazing sheep and pigs. A Commoner is someone with a specific Right of Common over Ashdown Forest. Bracken back then was used in many ways; for animal bedding, as a fuel source, thatching roofs, and more, to such an extent that Commoners fought to keep their rights to collect it. The fern has also been used for making root clamps, to store potatoes and carrots over winter, as a mulch, and to keep cargo such as fruit and fish safe by adding it to crates. The ash was used as a fumigant and for the making of soap and glass. Consumption of the young fiddleheads and ground rhizomes was common in Asian cuisine, as well as in Canada and New Zealand. Consumption of bracken is controversial due to its toxicity which can affect both animals and humans. Bracken requires thorough processing before any of the leaves or roots can be consumed (Łuczaj, 2022). There have been reports of bracken spores posing a health risk, although spores may not be produced in such large quantities and don’t travel far in the humid English atmosphere (PFAF, 2023).

Seven modern day uses

With such an abundant presence of bracken, can we revive some of its traditional uses for our benefit, recreating a relationship with this iconic fern? Here are some promising modern day uses for bracken:

1. Garden mulch

Bracken is an ideal mulching material, which has been reported to be an effective slug and snail repellent (Kern, pers. comm. 2023). Dead bracken can be collected in autumn, rotted down, and used to make mulch; the leaves can also be chopped down first (RHS, 2023, Spray, 2022). Bracken mulch successfully suppresses weeds, and keeps water in the soil (Spray, 2022). When layered thickly it has also been shown to reduce the loss of potassium and nitrogen in the soil, and to lower soil pH (Langley, 2023). It is said to be easily moved and replaced, although it doesn’t always stay put very well. As mentioned, some toxicity is associated with bracken, but leaving this mulch in the garden until winter or the beginning of spring can be considered safe (Spray, 2022). Using bracken allows water to percolate into the soil instead of running off, and helps reduce downstream flooding (Kern, pers. Comm. 2023).

2. Compost

The young green fronds of bracken can be collected for the compost heap, where they will rot down slowly, contributing to a nutrient rich compost. Bracken is now even used in some commercial compost production as a peat alternative (Langley, 2023). Bracken stems are too woody to be added to a compost or leaf mould heap, unless they are first shredded or chopped up (Spray, 2022). The RHS advises removing any root sections since these may regenerate (RHS, 2023). Some sources advise allowing the compost to rot down for one year because of health concerns, arising from a toxic substance, ptaquiloside that occurs in bracken. However, the Forestry Authority in Scotland performed tests and found that hot composting destroys any toxic ptaquiloside in only three weeks. Drying and burning bracken also destroys any toxic ptaquiloside. Bracken ash contains a high level of potassium and has a high pH (A&G). Green bracken ferns have been said to contain an average of 25% potash, possibly up to 55% (Langley, 2023). The many spores produced by bracken don’t tend to germinate or grow in the compost. This farmer in Cumbria >> harvests 20ha of bracken annually to make peat free compost with both bracken and wool.

3. Leaf mould substitute

Bracken can be a substitute for leaf mould, if the dead ferns are harvested in autumn. Leaf mould needs to be rotted down over 6 months up to 2 years, and provides a great source of organic matter for the garden. It will be best to shred the ferns and remove any roots. Interestingly, bracken naturally grows in silty loam or clay soils, the kind of soils that need this regeneration.

4. Animal bedding

Dried dead bracken has historically been used as animal bedding, and is still successfully used for that purpose today on occasion (Spray, 2022). The ferns are very absorbent and don’t become compacted. Eventually, the animal manure rots down the bracken, which can then be used on the land (A&G). local livestock farms could once again take up this traditional use of bracken.

5. Temporary garden paths

Since it is such an ideal mulching material, bracken can also be used to create temporary paths in the garden, protecting the soil from regular treading and compacting. You can use dried out leaves, chopped into shorter lengths if needed, to create temporary garden paths. It has been reported to withstand regular use very well (Spray, 2022).

6. Tinder

Dried bracken is an excellent material for tinder. It can be harvested in winter when it is dying off. Dried bracken will take a spark and can work as a tinder bundle. It’s better to pick the ferns from the plant, rather than those lying on the ground.

7. Natural building: roof thatching and insulation

Dry, dead fronds can make a decent roofing thatch (Spray, 2022). You can use bracken this way to create animal shelters and children’s play dens. Covering a shelter with canvas or tarpaulin first makes it fully waterproof. In the past such thatched roofs used for housing could last at least 15 years (Spray, 2022)! Bracken has also traditionally been used as underfloor insulation (Campbell and Belling), and it would be interesting to further explore its uses as a natural building material and perhaps an alternative for straw in strawbale houses.

8. Eco-friendly packaging

Dried bracken can be the ideal solution for the display, packaging and storing of produce such as fruit and vegetables. It could also be used to package fragile products such as glass or ceramics when sending them in the post. It would be interesting to explore the potential of dried bracken to replace mostly unsustainable packaging materials, such as bubblewrap and polystyrene foam, which usually end up on landfills.

I invite you to notice the abundant bracken if it grows in your local environment, and trial some of these proven uses in your own garden and beyond.

Sources

Bracken, RHS
Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), Woodland Trust
Bracken Control, Composting Bracken, Cancer Risks, Allotment & Gardens
Bracken folklore and history, Snapdragon life
Bracken: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Tocyn Cymru
Campbell and Belling, The Palaeoethnobotany of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Bracken), Historic England
How one farmer adds value with ‘worthless’ wool and bracken, Farmers Weekly
Kern, Hans-Günther. Biodynamic expert, personal communication, 2023.
Langley, E, 2023. Bountiful bracken, St Ives Orchard
Łukasz Łuczaj, 2022. Edible ferns of the world
PFAF, 2023. Pteridium aquilinum
POWO, 2023. Pteridium aquilinum
Spray, M., Bracken in the garden, Hardy Plant Society
Walmsley, Ash. Ashdown Forest Conservator, personal communication, 2023