Tuesday 11 March 2014

Campaign to track numbers of threatened juniper plants

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Walkers in the Scottish countryside are being urged to record sightings of juniper bushes which may be affected by a deadly fungal disease.
Charity Plantlife Scotland wants walkers to complete a survey form every time they see juniper.
Juniper berries The group said this would help track juniper numbers and the spread of the disease, which is affecting berries.
The plant has been lost in many parts of the UK and campaigners are deeply concerned about its future.
'Dramatic decline'
Recent findings show that juniper, used to give gin its distinctive flavour and taste, is under a real threat of extinction across Scotland.
The dramatic decline is also compounded by ageing bushes, many more than 100 years old, not producing enough new seeds. Figures suggest that the plant has been lost from a quarter of areas where it was previously found across the UK due a fungal disease (Phytophthora austrocedrae).

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