Latest news with #RSPBCumbria
The Independent
23-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Endangered dragonfly reintroduced to Cumbrian peatland after almost vanishing in England
Once prevalent in peat bogs across Britain, the distinctive white-faced darter dragonfly's known population in England had until recently been diminished to just five isolated patches of surviving habitat. But despite the existential threats of both climate change and the degradation of Britain's peatlands, new populations of the insect species are now thriving thanks to major efforts to reintroduce them to habitats both old and new. One such effort is underway in Cumbria, as a team of conservationists transported buckets of sphagnum moss containing dragonfly larvae to a new site at RSPB Campfield Marsh, a nature reserve on the shores of the Solway Firth. The relocation follows years of efforts by conservationists to create the exact balance of habitat conditions at Campfield Marsh in which white-faced darters – which breed in lowland acidic pools containing sphagnum moss – can hopefully thrive. Following Tuesday's operation, a further reintroduction of larvae and eggs is due to take place in August, and are expected to continue for up to five years to ensure a stable population is established. It is hoped that visitors to Campfield Marsh may be able to spot the white-faced darter as early as May 2026. 'This is an exciting opportunity to boost biodiversity in this beautiful and hidden corner of Cumbria, helping to create a new population of this charming but endangered species,' said Mhairi Maclauchlan, RSPB Cumbria's coastal reserves manager. 'It's incredibly rewarding to know we have created the right conditions for white-faced darter, and we're delighted to carry on the legacy and successes of the other projects in Cumbria.' While white-faced darter are still prevalent in the Scottish Highlands, they are classified as endangered on the British Odonata Red List. Eleanor Colver, the British Dragonfly Society's conservation officer, told The Independent: 'The main cause of the species' historic decline in England has been habitat loss and degradation as a result of the drainage of their peatland sites to make the land suitable for agriculture and forestry.' The last-known healthy breeding population in Cumbria was found on a private site of special scientific interest near Carlisle, which was previously chosen as a donor site from which larvae could be used to reintroduce new populations at two Wildlife Trust sites – Foulshaw Moss, from 2010 to 2015, and Drumburgh Moss, from 2019 to 2024. Both populations are now said to be thriving, and the same donor population is now being used at Campfield Marsh. Ms Colver said: 'One of the main threats to the species now is climate change; rising annual temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events can alter the water levels and vegetation structure of peatbogs, making them unsuitable for white-faced darter. 'For example, the species is associated with bog moss Sphagnum cuspidatum, which it lays its eggs in, and is where larvae live within breeding pools; the bog moss can not survive desiccation during drought conditions.' Both Campfield Marsh and Drumburgh Moss, which is also located on the Solway coast, were selected as introduction sites because the area has a cooler and wetter climate than at some of the species historic breeding sites, such as Thursley Common in Surrey, where the species has gone extinct, said Ms Colver. 'Campfield Marshes contains a healthy peatbog, with numerous pools which, it is hoped, will provide suitable breeding conditions for their new White-faced Darter residences for many years to come,' she added.
The Guardian
22-04-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Rare dragonfly introduced into remote area of Cumbria to reverse its decline
With its chalk-white face and bright flame-coloured markings, the white-faced darter dragonfly is a distinctive sight as it flutters around England's peat bogs. The rare dragonfly, which breeds in mossy pools, is at threat of local extinction, but now conservationists are trying to end its population crash by introducing it into a remote corner of Cumbria. White-faced darters are being carefully transported to the South Solway Mosses national nature reserve, where mossy pools have been created for the insects to enjoy. They thrive in bogs, breeding in acidic pools containing sphagnum moss, and roost and feed in woodlands. The dragonfly population has steeply declined due to destruction of its peatland habitat, including drainage of the wetland and grazing from intensive agriculture. Its bog pool breeding sites have been drying out in the increasingly hot, dry summers that have been made more regular by climate breakdown. Conservationists are carefully collecting small amounts of sphagnum moss containing dragonfly larvae and transporting it in buckets to new locations on the reserve, in the hope of increasing abundance. Mhairi Maclauchlan, RSPB Cumbria's coastal reserves manager, said: 'It's incredibly rewarding to know we have created the right conditions for white-faced darter, and we're delighted to carry on the legacy and successes of the other projects in Cumbria. 'By carefully restoring the wetland habitat and ensuring the right balance of sphagnum-rich pools, we're hopeful that these dragonflies will establish themselves here. If this year's translocation is successful, we could see adults emerging next spring and we hope to see this area alive with this species of dragonfly in the coming years.' The dragonfly reintroductions will take place in April and August, continuing for up to five years to ensure a stable population can be established. Local dragonfly experts will help with the surveys to gauge success, and visitors will hopefully be able to see the invertebrate on the wing as early as May 2026. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Eleanor Colver, the British Dragonfly Society's conservation officer, said: 'The white-faced darter is one of our rarest dragonflies and the BDS is committed to stabilising the British population. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss and climate change, the species cannot be reintroduced to its more southerly historic breeding sites in England. However, the cooler climate of the Solway coast and the healthy peat bog of Campfield Marsh provide perfect conditions for the species to thrive.'
