Need help to identifying this fern and any hints/tips

Hi

I have this fern in my garden, I've been watching it for a good few weeks wondering if it would start growing again. It seems like something has either sat on it or eaten it. I even bought a Gardepro outdoor camera to keep an eye out. So far only seen a cat spraying its scent on it.

There are plenty of rabbits, moles, badgers, and deer so it could be any of these which is why I'm hoping to maybe catch the culprit in the act.

Last year it was nearly the size of the statue but sort of died off a bit over winter.

Any ideas on what type of fern it is and have tips on how I can help it?

 

Sorry not good at ferns, but I'm just wondering if this might be normal for this fern.
You might get a whole new array of fronds come out the centre of the plant which would be upright for a while.
I could be totally wrong.

 

My ferns are like that at the moment so it would appear that is what they do. One of mine disappeared altogether but is now back with new fresh fronds.

 

When I had my ferns I used to cut them back to ground level every year, can't remember whether it was April or May I used to do it.

 

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for all the insightful messages. You were all correct in saying that the fern is likely to grow back with new fronds/knuckles coming out from the center.

I must have been paranoid that I was going to kill it if I didn't look after it and wasn't patient enough

 

Hi reminds me of a Lady Fern that has been flattened by snow

 

If it was mine I'd cut off all the old fronds (being very careful not to cut the emerging shoots). I did this on all my ferns back in late March - both deciduous (Drypoteris cristata) and evergreen (Polystichum polyblepharum) and both have come up a treat, looking really lush and perky.