Old uses for bracken

[country-works]

I am researching into old customs and management techniques practiced by commoners on heaths and moors.

In old photos, I have often seen people cutting and collecting bracken. Does anyone know what bracken was used for?

I have heard it was used as a straw substitute, are there any other uses for this invasive fern?

[StuartDH]

From what I know, bracken was usually harvested for animal bedding but also simply to get rid of it from the land because it's thought to be poisonous (and possibly carciogenic) to both animals and humans. But that does little explain why they'd then use it for bedding?

Apparenly It was also unwanted on farms because sheep would disappear in it (rather than be easily visible/countable on a hillside) and it harbours lots of ticks.

Whether any of the above is true I don't know, but hopefully it's a start

[country-works]

cheers stuart, it comfirms what I've heard too.

[BigAl]

This may be helpful:

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/organic/organic_24.php

[country-works]

Nice one al thats a very useful link.

[Noctule]

Bracken - The edible Fern

It can be used as a wild soap to clean hands!

Young Bracken First emerging from the ground can be cooked like asparagus and eaten!

You've already discovered it was cut and used as bedding for animals, did you know that as an alternative way to manage dense stands of Bracken people now cut it to make a wonderful pot ash fertiliser!

I have read that people used top make shoes from it!

It is only carciogenic when it is sporing and for it to be harmful would involve prolonged exposure to its spores. You get ticks from it before you ever get cancer!

Finally it often reminds older people of their youth because of its Almond smell!

I love Bracken even if it is an aggressive plant!

[BigAl]

I've just re-found this site after a long lay-off. I forgot its name and URL when my computer totally crashed and I had to replace it Anyway, I read relatively recently, perhaps in one of Monty Don's columns, that bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is believed to be the most common plant on the planet, and covers 2% of the surface area of Great Britain.

[ron1863]

We used to play Soldiers and Cowboys and Indians amongst the bracken when we were kids

[cherrywaff]

when we went camping as children, before sleeping bags were available to us. we would gather braken to make comfy matresses to lay under our blankets. i love the smell, we never got ticks either.. those where the good old days , ridge tents, camp fires, washing in streams, no camp sites... i think i,m showing my age

[BigAl]

My brother and I used to use bracken stems as spears to throw at each other.Did Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' make bracken beds? I know they used heather

A