CHILDREN from a North school have taken action to protect an increasingly rare bush.

Despite once being a common sight in North Yorkshire, sheep, rabbit and grouse have all contributed to the decline of the juniper.

Now, children in the village of Botton, in the North York Moors National Park, have been planting junipers near their school.

Peter Woods, of the North Yorkshire Moors Association, said: "There is just one bush left above Botton, and it is between 300 and 400 years old. There are two other juniper bushes at Fryupdale and a few up Baisdale.

"Juniper likes wide open space and fairly poor soil, and thrives in the cold. Thousands of years ago, the moors were covered in it. Now, there will be no juniper at all, unless something is done about its decline."