Two rare species have been discovered for the first time at Shapwick Moor Nature Reserve in Glastonbury, Somerset.

Great crested newts and lesser silver diving beetles were spotted at the reserve following the introduction of new wetland features.

This marks an exciting milestone for the Hawk and Owl Trust, which owns the reserve, and for Natural England, which funded the new habitat creation.

Simon Phelps, project lead at Natural England, expressed surprise and delight at how quickly these rare species have colonised the newly created habitats.

Alex Learmont, Hawk and Owl Trust Reserve Warden, added: “We are thrilled the new scrapes are providing habitat for a range of species and communities, including species never previously recorded on the reserve and ones that are nationally rare.”

The development of these wetland features is part of a broader national effort to expand the Nature Recovery Network across the UK.

Natural England provided funding to the Hawk and Owl Trust to create four water-filled “scraped out areas of earth” at Shapwick Moor, as part of the Somerset Coast, Levels, and Moors Nature Recovery Project.

Phelps highlighted Somerset as a “hot spot” for the lesser silver diving beetles, which are listed in the UK Red Data Book of endangered species.

The great crested newt, also endangered, is found across the UK but had not been recorded at this site before.

According to Mr Phelps, the presence of both species is said to be indicators of “good wetland habitat”.

He added: “Finding these two rare and endangered species taking up residence on the site so soon after creating the scrapes shows the value of creating wetland features in this landscape.”

 

 

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