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Durham Landscapes

Understanding and conserving the diversity of the County Durham Landscape

  • Character
  • Strategy
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  • Juniper Woodland, Teesdale
  • Bilberry
  • Juniper

Juniper Woodland – W19

Juniperus communis – Oxalis acetosella woodland

Region 

North Pennines. Formerly found in small pockets on the coast and in Coalfield Pennine Fringe heathlands.

Character 

Open low scrub of rocky moorland margins and hill stream valleys.

Geology 

Carboniferous Limestones & Millstone Grits, Magnesian limestones, Coal Measures.

Soils 

Various.  Acidic and podzolic brown earths. Podzols

Species 

Juniper is the dominant species with occasional Downy Birch, Rowan and Hawthorn.

Ground Flora and Fauna 

Bilberry, Heather, Cowberry, Wavy Hair-grass.

Structure 

Open scrub heavily influenced by grazing.  Very diverse form. Irregular canopy.

Management Principles

  • Seek specialist advice.
  • Prevent grazing by livestock and rabbits.
  • Where grazing is long established, and stands are healthy, fit stocking periods & densities to conservation goals.
  • Avoid burning of heather other than in a controlled form to promote juniper regeneration.
  • Control competing vegetation such as gorse and bracken.
  • Create areas of bare ground to encourage regeneration.
  • When planting is necessary use plant material of local origins.
  • Seedlings take many years to establish – protect with tree guards or small rabbit-proof enclosures and maintain these carefully.

Planting Sites for New Woods

Coastal slopes and denes, lowland & mid altitude heath, upland gills and moorland fringes.

Design Principles 

Stands of pure juniper. Minor species in smaller numbers.

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