Rare Southern Damselfly habitat in Wales given boost

Habitat for Rare Dragonflies Saved

July 2013. An area of habitat for the rare Southern Damselfly has been saved thanks to the combined effort of several conservation organisations, the landowner and local farmers. The endangered Southern Damselfly is at risk of extinction in this part of the Preseli Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in Pembrokeshire which is one of its traditional strongholds in Europe. Projects like this that maintain its habitat are vital for the species survival in the area.

Natural Resources Wales' Senior Conservation Officer, Jon Hudson explains 'this is an area with several specialist wetland features including streams, bogs, flushes and pools. It is the confluence of several streams and an important access area for livestock, graziers and walkers to the common'. The area was at risk because access to the common was becoming difficult and the streams were at risk of getting choked up. This essential work has created clear access to the common for walkers and graziers whilst ensuring that the sensitive wetland features are maintained.

Rare throughout Europe

This project will ensure that one of the small areas across the common where the endangered Southern Damselfly is found is maintained into the future. This species is rare throughout Europe and protected by law both in the UK and Europe. The BDS Conservation Officer, Claire Install says ‘this matchstick-sized blue and black damselfly has very specific habitat requirements and is currently under threat through changes in land management. Projects like this are vital if we want to continue to see this species in Pembrokeshire'.

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New habitat created for Endangered Southern damselfly in Pembrokeshire

New Habitat Created for Damsels in Distress
March 2012. A beautiful but endangered damselfly is being helped thanks to habitat work funded by Environment Wales. This partnership between the British Dragonfly Society (BDS), Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) and Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has created valuable new habitat for the rare Southern Damselfly. 

A high-priority BAP species, the Southern damselfly is described as ‘Endangered' in the Red Data Book and is protected by both UK and European law. It is found in Anglesey, the Gower, Pembrokeshire and Southern England - particularly Devon and the New Forest. 

Lack of grazing
One of its UK strongholds is Pembrokeshire. The species has dramatically declined here because there is insufficient grazing by heavy livestock at some of its sites. This has resulted in its habitat becoming overgrown.

The project managed by the BDS and supervised by their volunteers has created new habitat using a digger. Through the partnership, the BDS provided expert species knowledge and habitat management advice. The PCNPA who own and manage the site, assessed the suitability of the ground conditions for creating Southern damselfly habitat. PCNPA also organised the digger work and provided invaluable site knowledge to ensure the success of this habitat creation work.

PCNPA have wanted to help the Southern damselfly for several years now. This partnership project ensures that the Southern damselfly habitat created is optimal for this species and will be maintained by correct site management in the future. CCW provided the expert site management advice for Southern damselflies in Pembrokeshire.

The digger created shallow streams leading from natural springs found on site. These improvements have regraded the bank profile of ditches, improved accessibility for livestock and created shallow streams and pools. Two pools were created on the site in 2005, so aquatic vegetation should colonise the new areas. There are Southern damselfly colonies nearby, so it is hoped that it will not be long before this beautiful insect is found on the site. Ponies graze the site as part of the habitat management. 

"This partnership project is great for the Southern damselfly which is declining in Pembrokeshire and needs areas of habitat that will be maintained by grazing", said Claire Install, BDS Conservation Officer.

Read on:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/pembrokeshire-damselfly.html

Damsel in distress emerges after re-introduction

Volunteers at Devon Wildlife Trust have been the first to witness the return of the southern damselfly at Venn Ottery Nature Reserve following the successful re-introduction of 500 adults in 2009.


The larvae of this very rare insect usually take two years to mature and a great deal of work has been carried out in that time to provide the damselfly with every chance to establish a strong population on the charity’s East Devon reserve.

Staff, contractors and volunteers have been hard at work over the winter removing scrub, swaling (controlled burning), conducting dam maintenance and adding fencing to make sure the site is in good condition for the next generation of damselflies.

Despite the lack of rain in recent months those efforts look to be paying off as the reserve is in good condition with good levels of water on the key runnels which the insects prefer as their habitat.

DWT’s Ian Chadwick who looks after the site for DWT and coordinated the work to re-introduce the insects said: “It’s great to know that two years after successfully bringing these amazing little creatures back to this site their young have survived in this stretch of watercourse for long enough to successfully emerge and produce another generation! We would like to thank all the volunteers for their painstaking work to create exactly the right conditions for the southern damselflies to thrive.”

“As part of our East Devon Heath Week at the end of July, you can book onto a guided walk around the Venn Ottery Reserve with the warden and get close to all types of heathland wildlife. Hopefully you’ll see the southern damselflies too!” added Kimmo Evans, East Devon AONB. “The Venn Ottery walk is on Monday 25 July, 2 to 4 pm and you can book your place on 01392 432691”.

The work was generously supported by RockETs and East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund.
 
http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/view-news/2011/07/07/Damsel%2Bin%2Bdistress%2Bemerges%2Bafter%2Bre-introduction/