70
in 1999 the Bracken has been sprayed with asulox and in future years may be cut if trampling by
cattle isn't sufficient to keep it at bay. With Bracken dominant amongst the nearby Birch
secondary woodland, spraying may well be necessary on a regular basis.
Fauna
Finally, in all habitat restoration it is important to remember the fauna. For example soil-stripping
has to be timed carefully and monitored closely to avoid damaging Adder hibernation sites and the
snakes themselves. Adders do not move out of the way of machinery, as they might be expected to,
as observations during both soil-stripping and mowing operations have shown at Epping Forest.
During these operations staff have been present on the ground in front of the machinery to ensure
the snakes move away from the area. This provides another reason for spraying the Bracken rather
than crashing it and any mechanical work would have to be done with immense care.
Similar concerns need to be addressed with ground-nesting birds such as Tree Pipits. Nest-
finding could help avoid the area but this itself involves disturbance and could alert predators.
At Long Running, Tree Pipits have remained on site throughout the period of the work and a
pair has nested within the fenced area every year. Song-posts of bark-ringed Birch were
deliberately left for this species (see Fig. 2) and they have provided display points in the centre
of the territory for one male in all nine years between 1991 and 1999. Living Birch were also
left to protect an existing Adder hibernaeulum under the roots and this too has been effective.
Conclusions
Both techniques of restoration, soil-stripping and high grazing pressure, have shown significant
results. Soil-stripping requires great care, planning and attention to detail but is probably the
only way to revert our heaths to sustainable dwarf-shrub communities. Spring grazing has
worked well on reducing Purple Moor-grass but not so effectively against the established
Bracken. The type of breed and the age of the animal are very important factors. At Long
Running the English Longhorns, which are in keeping with the historic Forest landscape, have
proved ideal. They have had a significant physical impact on the very tough tussocky vegetation
whilst maintaining their condition on a diet of woody regrowth and coarse grasses.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Ken Hoy, Peggy Bitten and Irene Buchan of the Friends of Epping Forest for
assisting with the 1993 survey.
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)