Ferns (Pteridological) have been around a very long time in terms of the history of the earth, around 360 million years ago.
The Victorians had a craze for Ferns adding then to many gardens and features, also creating large Fernery’s in which to display them.
Ferns are part of the UK’s landscape from Coastal to Woodlands and host a variety of species. They provide cover for animals and homes for others, big and small.
The British Pteridological Society have an excellent Fern Guide PDF that you can download to help identify species. Covers:
- Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)
- Hard fern (Blechnum spicant)
- Common polypody (Polypodium vulgare)
- Male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
- Golden-scaled Male-fern (Dryopteris affinis)
- Soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum)
- Lemon-scented mountain fern (Oreopteris limbosperma)
- Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
- Broad buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata)
- Hay-scented buckler-fern (Dryopteris aemula)
- Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum)
- Oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)
- Beech fern (Phegopteris connectilis)
- Maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes)
- Wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria)
- Black spleenwort (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum)
- Rusty-back fern (Asplenium ceterach)
Additional Reading
Sparrowhawk Bushcraft 