Farm on the M62: Green shoots and growing concerns - Jill Thorp
The long-awaited rain has finally arrived, and our parched landscape has been transformed.
The burnt-off meadows, so crisp underfoot, have sprung back to life, and almost overnight a soft green fuzz has returned. We’ve had some lengthy downpours up at the farm accompanied by strong winds and deep grumblings of thunder. Our underpass has, of course, been washed away down the lane; a great heap of gravel and silt has now accumulated in the grass at the bottom.
The land that looked so dead and devoid of life is now tinged with a new, fresh coat, and lush green patches are springing up all over.
Trickles of water are emerging from the dried springs, and everything suddenly feels a huge sense of relief. The little guy and I have travelled a fair few miles over the summer holidays, our outings taking us as far as Devon. That particular trip gave us plenty of time to take in the surrounding countryside and observe just how devastating the drought had been. Trees on the edges of motorway embankments were dead, the grass below them a dull beige. The landscape was bleached of all colour, trees shedding their leaves in a desperate bid to save themselves, shrubs and wildflowers dead and twisted. Whilst our moor had taken quite a hammering due to such an extended dry spell, the land we saw from our car window was much worse.
Thanks to some prolonged downpours, our moor looks relieved to have a good soaking. Unfortunately, some of the lush green patches that can be seen are not so welcome. Bracken, great swathes of the stuff covering the slopes above the reservoir. Its presence has been a constant source of concern for us, especially considering the restrictions in place for dealing with it. Whilst the “re-wilding brigade” wax lyrical over this native fern, we’re perhaps a little more aware of the dangers this fast-spreading invasive weed causes. It grows quickly; its underground rhizomes and wind-borne spores see it double in size year after year.
Everything else is blocked out: young tree saplings, all the moorland grasses and sedges, and wildflowers. It provides a perfect place for ticks to wait for a potential host passing by and, of course, always grows in the steepest and least accessible areas. Its toxicity levels are of greatest concern to not only farmers but also walkers who often find some of the lesser-trodden footpaths completely consumed by bracken. Despite having lengthy discussions with our landlord, Moors for the Future and Natural England, little is being done about it. However, we have found someone who has specialist equipment and is prepared to make a start on dealing with it. Whilst I doubt any mechanical intervention will completely eradicate this incredibly determined plant, anything to try and reduce or halt its march across the valley will be met with much gratitude.