The Friends of Ilkley Moor have set aside over £10,000 of its own money to fund the cost of Bracken spraying on Ilkley Moor. John Stidworthy (Chair of the Friends) said “The Countryside Service is in the process of booking a specialist helicopter to spray the chemical Asulam on selected areas of the Moor on the lower slopes facing the town (see map). Various permissions have been obtained from Natural England to ensure that there is no loss of biodiversity, in fact there is evidence that the removal of the bracken should improve the biodiversity over time. Spraying will happen towards the end of this month or the beginning of September. We are hoping that the chemical will destroy a large area of the bracken, and that the money will be well spent by the Friends. We will not know for sure until next year when the bracken comes up – or we hope does not”.
Owen Wells, (Chair of the Friends from 2008 – 2012) said “we have been pushing for the spraying of the Moor for the past five years with very few results. The Higher Level Stewardship Agreement between Natural England and Bradford Council made funds available for bracken spraying under the administration of the Bingley Moor Partnership (the shoot). HLSA money was set aside by BMP for bracken control in 2010, 2011, 2012 and though the Friends suggested the areas to be sprayed, there is no evidence that these were treated. There has been some spraying by BMP on the upper slopes but none on the lower slopes facing the town, where most people go walking. The Friends have now allocated their own money so that spraying can be carried out on 74 acres of these lower areas this year, followed by reinforcement action in later years.”
There will be notification nearer the day when spraying is expected, so walkers and others can avoid being affected. However, spraying is very much dependant on the right weather, so dates may have to be changed at short notice. The solution being used is harmless to humans and plant life on the Moor other than the ferns. The Friends are hoping that, among other benefits, the removal of the bracken will improve public access on popular footpaths that have been made difficult through bracken encroachment.
The Friends of Ilkley Moor and Bradford Countryside Services will endeavour to ensure that there is minimum disruption to public access on the moor when spraying takes place but, inevitably, public access to some areas of the moor will be limited for a short period of time.
From Barry Wilkinson FOIM Press Officer 07831-505051 : For more information please contact John Stidworthy 01943601723