bracken

Everyday

A large, tough fern that grows thickly on hills, moors and in woods, green in summer and brown in autumn. tree →

In the lessons

In nature and geography lessons in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, bracken covers hillsides and moors; walkers push through it, and it can hide ticks that may carry illness. In stories bracken is where animals hide and children make dens. Phrases: a patch of bracken, hide in the bracken.

Examples

• The deer hid in the bracken. tree →
• The hillside was covered in brown bracken. tree →
• We made a den out of bracken and sticks. tree →
• Check your legs for ticks after walking through bracken. tree →
• In autumn, the bracken turns golden brown. tree →
• The path was hard to find under all the bracken. tree →
• He sat still in the bracken, and hoped that the other rabbits wouldn't notice. tree →

Note

Uncountable: "some bracken", "bracken is". Not good to eat: bracken is poisonous to people and animals. Safety: ticks like bracken, so wear long trousers.