Page 15 - Conservation Impact Report 2016

Conservation Strategy Conservation Impact Southern damselfly

Fen and reedbed are semi-natural habitats, inasmuch ■■ Cutting dense sedge tussocks helps reduce its
as they are not stable communities but mid-succession competitive vigour. At one fen site this has resulted
habitats, and are maintained by human interventions in a significant increase in the number of early
such as reed cutting (for thatching), peat digging or marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata), which has
grazing livestock. Copying traditional management risen from c.500 in 2009 to c.2300 in 2016.
is required in the form of rotational reed and fen
cutting, low intensity grazing, and control over water ■■ Across sites numbers of lapwing and curlew have
levels to be able to achieve the specific water regime remained relatively stable between 2009 and 2015
required by target species. Predator control may also (10 pairs and 11 pairs respectively), however total
be required to safeguard the eggs and chicks of wading numbers are low. This mirrors the national trend
birds. Targeted restoration of fen and reedbed habitat of decline (50% since 197534). Management and
is carried out to increase the habitat resource and link predation control measures are being implemented
extant patches. Scrape and ditch restoration in wet to try and increase numbers of pairs breeding
grassland also benefits wading birds. successfully.

■■ Two calcareous fen sites support populations of
southern damselfly. The introduction of grazing
by Welsh ponies, ideally suited to the wetland
conditions, and increased vegetation cutting along
runnel edges has resulted in a significant positive
response in the southern damselfly population. In
2005 the maximum number of individuals recorded
was one; in 2015 the maximum count had increased
to 17 individuals.

Figure 6. Southern damselfly sightings at a
known local site

Southern damselfly

30 A. McBride et al. (ed), The Fen Management Handbook, Scottish Natural Heritage, Perth, 2011.
31 C. Hawke and P. José, Reedbed Management – for Commercial and Wildlife Interests. RSPB, Sandy, Beds, 1996.
32 C. Kinnear, Upper Thames Breeding Wader Report, RSPB, 2016 (unpublished)
33 Third Report by the United Kingdom under Article 17 on the implementation of the Directive from January 2007 to December 2012, Conservation status
assessment for Species: S1016 - Desmoulin’s whorl snail (Vertigo moulinsiana), Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2013.
34 M. Eaton et al., Birds of Conservation Concern 4: The Population Status of Birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, British Birds 108, December
2015, p. 708–746

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