Juniper trees under threat

Could this be the end of the gin and tonic? Britain's juniper trees are being targeted by a lethal fungus

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It's hard to imagine the British summer without gin and tonics, served with a squeeze of lime and plenty of ice. But scientists fear that our national drink could be rendered a thing of the past by a marauding fungus.

Juniper trees, whose berries give the spirit its distinctive aromatic flavour, are falling victim to Phytophthora austrocedrae, which causes foliage to wither away and bark to dry up.

It's thought that some 45% of Scottish junipers could be wiped out by the fungus, and although the majority of gin producers rely on trees from Eastern Europe, the British population's survival is crucial to the future of the entire species.

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The tree, one of only three native British conifers, is in ‘is in serious trouble', according to Plantlife. The charity has now teamed up with the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage to assess the extent of the problem.

Volunteers are being asked to record sightings of juniper bushes: those with an orange or brown hue may be infected with Phytophthora austrocedrae.

For more information, visit www.plantlife.org.uk.

Juniper image © Andrew Gagg/Plantlife

Emma Hughes lives in London and has spent the past 15 years writing for publications including the Guardian, the Telegraph, the Evening Standard, Waitrose Food, British Vogue and Condé Nast Traveller. Currently Country Life's Acting Assistant Features Editor and its London Life restaurant columnist, if she isn't tapping away at a keyboard she's probably taking something out of the oven (or eating it).