By bracken and bramble

It's been a bumper season for bracken and bramble, and they're nowhere done yet. Already the common's beginning to choke with them, waist, even shoulder high in places, their uncompromising march is really quite impressive. Brambles are incredibly important, providing as they do food and shelter to countless insects, birds and mammals; and bracken used to be such a valued resource that it's collection was strictly regulated. It's the time of year when the common's paths are narrowing and the lesser will become impassible without intervention. So it's that time of year when I carry secateurs on my walks.

Fight, fight!

Who'd win in a fight, brambles or bracken? I ask as there's a battle for supremacy going on over the common as to which which of these two species will dominate. You see, a couple of years back some yoof burn a huge swathe of the common, it's a fairly regular occurrence, although this time it was on a grand scale. All but the larger trees was razed, even some of them were damaged beyond saving the ground was charred black. As time has passed brambles and bracken have colonized in equal measure, climbing over each other to get a foot hold.  I get the impression they're both opportunist invaders, taking advantage of our environmental ineptitude.  Time will tell who will be victorious.