Juniper bushes have been growing on the South Downs since the last ice age. But now, due to plant disease, habitat loss and our changing climate, they are in trouble. 

The Steyning Downland Scheme looks after two populations of Juniper plants. At the top of Steyning Coombe we have a ‘Juniper enclosure’, which is fenced to prevent rabbits from eating the Junipers inside. For years the enclosure has only supported two Juniper plants – a male and a female.

Our other Juniper population is much bigger – up to 40 plants grow on a very steep bank on the Bostal Road. This population is being gradually swamped by invading Hawthorn and Bramble but the bank is just too steep for our volunteers to manage safely.

Yesterday we decided to try to improve the prospects of both Juniper populations by moving 8 young Juniper plants from the Bostal Road to the safe enclosure at Steyning Coombe. SDS volunteers from our Maintenance Group worked with a team from the South Downs Voluntary Ranger Service to carefully dig up the plants, bag the roots (to prevent them from drying out) and then transplant them in the enclosure.

Time will tell whether the translocation has been successful, but it was a great day out, with some marvellous views!  A special ‘thank you’ to the South Downs National Park for all your support and to the charity Plantlife, who funded the creation of the Juniper enclosure.