Reintroductions White-faced darter dragonfly
A less well-known and less readily identifiable species is the white-faced darter dragonfly. Again, habitat loss has meant that its range in Cumbria recently shrank to a single site in the north of the county – a site already in a state of degradation and at risk of losing the species. Working with the British Dragonfly Society, we were able to reintroduce this species to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve where, as part of the restoration of the site, we have
Photo: Vicky Nall
created vast areas of suitable habitat that now support a thriving population. As I write, plans are afoot to carry out a similar reintroduction at our Drumburgh Moss Nature Reserve, where restoration of the bog has created a great white-faced dater habitat, hopefully allowing this species to spread further across its former range. This exciting project is in partnership with the British Dragonfly Society and Natural England and will run for the next five years.
Flower-rich meadows at Eycot Hill Nature Reserve
Wildflowers Primula and the Duke of Burgundy buterfly
Sometimes, the reintroduction of one species creates a unique opportunity for others to recolonise areas where they once thrived. At our Hervey Memorial Nature Reserve on Whitbarrow we are about to try and re-establish primroses and cowslips, which have been lost due to changes in grazing practices over the years. It's hoped that by spreading locally grown seed the resulting increase in habitat will enable the Duke of Burgundy buterfly to spread from other parts of the Whitbarrow massif.
In contrast, at our nearby Laterbarrow Nature Reserve, primulas abound. Laterbarrow used to be a site for the Duke of Burgundy, but here there are no adjacent populations to try to tap into. Therefore, we hope to reintroduce the buterflies back onto this site from captive- bred stock as part of the University of Cumbria’s reintroduction project. See page 16 for more details.
As I said earlier, most of our wild flowers are missing from most of the countryside. Where once farmers’ fields were full of colour with a range of wild plants, now most are the uniform bright green that cloaks the countryside. The ready availability of artificial fertiliser has created this wildlife-empty landscape, but on a very local, field-by-field scale we can and do still make a difference. Species- rich hay meadow restoration is a way of reintroducing wild flowers where they have been lost from all but tiny areas. We at Cumbria Wildlife Trust have been at the forefront of this for nearly 20 years. Our Coronation Meadow project at Eycot Hill Nature Reserve is a brilliant example of how we can take green hay from one of Cumbria’s few surviving flower-rich meadow sites and inoculate grassland to become flower-rich and pollinator- friendly once again.
Photo: Tom Marshall Photo: Kieron Huston
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk 13
Most species reintroductions take a lot of hard work and planning. Many necessary checks and balances have to be put in place before species can be moved from one place to another. Real differences can, however, be made at a local level by sowing seeds and planting trees. Reintroducing common species locally can help us move towards a Wilder Cumbria.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
