COUNTRYSIDE officers are taking drastic action to protect a beauty spot from being threatened by bracken.
Waldridge Fell, near Chester-le-Street, is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is one of the few areas of lowland heath in the North-East.
But bracken is threatening to take over the fell, which supports a wide range of plants and animals such as matt grass, heather, weasels, voles and common lizards.
Countryside officers from Durham County Council have now stepped in and are to spray a 250 hectare area with a herbicide.
Countryside manager Andy Niven said they regularly have to get rid of invading birch trees and bracken to maintain the important site.
He said: "It costs about £10,000 a year just to keeping the bracken down and stopping the birch trees overtaking."
The herbicide used is not toxic to other plants or dogs.
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