Rare dragonfly heads north

Wardens at a nature reserve in Cumbria have recorded their first sighting of a rare dragonfly.

The Southern Hawker dragonfly - which has a body length of around 3 inches - is an almost exclusively southern species and sightings so far north are very unusual.

It was spotted by wardens at the RSPB Campfield Marsh, near Carlisle, making it the second new dragonfly species for the reserve in as many months.

Last month an Emperor Dragonfly, the UK's largest dragonfly, was spotted at the site.

It takes the total number of dragonfly species recorded on the wetland reserve to thirteen.

'Spectacular' insect

The site is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the most important sites for dragonflies in north west England.

Efforts have been made to raise water levels on the site and create of a "mosaic" of small pools, which are good for wildlife.

Dave Blackledge said: "There's no doubt that conservation management work at the Campfield Marsh reserve is helping to make this a fantastic area for dragonflies.

"We have a growing list of dragonflies recorded at the site and to have gone from just three to 13 species is a great achievement.

"Our continuing work to re-wet the areas of peat bog of the Solway Mosses will create even better habitat not only for these spectacular insects, but also for all the other special wildlife which is found in this unique and precious part of Cumbria."