Natural England, in partnership with FERA (the Food and Environment Research Agency), have temporarily closed the open access land around Holwick Fell, including Holwick Scar, under emergency closure powers as a result of the presence of a damaging plant fungal infection.

Phytophthora austrocedrae (P. austrocedrae) is a damaging plant pathogen (a fungal infection) which has only recently been discovered in Great Britain (the current reported distribution of the infection is limited to Argentina, Chile and now the UK).  Its presence has been confirmed in juniper bushes at the Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve (NNR) in the North Pennines.

The pathogen was detected in November 2011 as the cause of dieback in juniper bushes on heathland in the Moor House area of the Nature Reserve in Northern England.  It is especially serious because juniper is quite rare in the UK and this site has the second largest population of the species in the UK. 

A survey will be carried out of other areas where junipers are growing to establish whether the pathogen is present at other sites in the UK. The devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have also been alerted so that they can consider carrying out similar surveys.

Natural England and FERA, who have a legal duty to stop the spread of the disease, are currently surveying the Upper Teesdale area to establish the full extent of the infection and it is hoped that certain areas around the Holwick Fell will be re-opened shortly but it is still unclear how the infection is spread.  Removal of the infected plants may occur but this might promote further spread of the pathogen and be of limited value. Instead, containment of the infection may be the only option and areas around the juniper growth may be cordoned off for some time.  However, as of yet, how FERA tackle this new and unknown problem is still being researched. The position will be re-assessed in light of further work, in this area and elsewhere.

Scientists believe the pathogen is spread by water, infected plant material and contaminated soil, making it difficult to control. The concern at the moment remains that the infection could be transferred to other areas via muddy boots.

Plans will be developed as more becomes known of this infection and through stakeholder discussions with landowners, user groups (including the BMC) and other stakeholders in the affected areas. 
 

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