Is Juniper Worth Saving?
The Problem
One of only three native conifers in the UK, Juniper is now in serious decline. Today, many of the remaining bushes are over a hundred years old and, unsurprisingly, are no longer very successful at producing a new generation!
Juniper seeds need open bare ground to germinate. Under-grazed land stops seed from germinating and mature Juniper bushes eventually succumb through the growth of scrub. Too much grazing, both from farm stock and wild animals, means that seedlings rarely survive.
In Scotland more than a third of remaining Juniper sites are now under threat. In Southern England, many counties have recorded losses of Juniper between 70-80%.
Climate change projections suggest in 80 years time, Juniper will disappear from much of southern Europe. If this happens the UK will have an even greater responsibility to conserve this much celebrated plant.
What is Plantlife doing?
Using novel habitat management techniques, Plantlife is:
- Halting the decline at key Juniper sites.
- Demonstrating to land managers the right conditions for Juniper regeneration.
- Restoring habitat to make it suitable not only for Juniper but a range of other threatened wild plants and insects that need open ground conditions.
In addition to our ongoing Juniper conservation programmes in Scotland and Wales, Plantlife is now also addressing the decline across the lowlands of England. Plantlife is working on the North and South Downs, the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, across Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall.
For more information - go to Plantlife UK (website)
Posted: 26/01/2010