Dragons and damsels light up Leicestershire farm
Hall Farm, Brentingby, Leicestershire
"Being in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme has made a marked difference to the area. In particular it has enabled us to put in the field margins and to restore miles of our old hedges, a valuable wildlife and landscape feature."
Julia Hawley
On 7 August Minister for Nature Conservation Ben Bradshaw visited a farm in Leicestershire to see how management of the land is helping the county's dragonflies to thrive.
 Ben Bradshaw on his visit to Hall Farm in Leicestershire |
Julia Hawley's farm at Brentingby includes wetland bordering the River Eye, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). She is managing the wetland under Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), without the use of fertilisers or pesticides. The resulting habitat has attracted several dragonfly and damselfly species, as well as over 65 species of bird.
Dragonflies are amongst the most ancient of the world's living species. Fossil records show that they date back almost 300 million years, predating pterodactyls by 100 million years and birds by 150 million years. The largest prehistoric dragonflies had wingspans up to a metre across.
Forty years ago, there were 42 breeding species of dragonfly in the UK. Three of these are now extinct, due to pollution or flooding of their habitats. A third of the remaining species are risk of extinction.
 Common blue damselfly - Photo credit Tom Holliday |
Ben Bradshaw said:
" The habitat creation work here at Hall Farm is an inspiration, and I applaud the success that Julia Hawley has achieved. I'm particularly impressed by the educational work Julia is undertaking, sharing this extraordinary site with local groups and schools so that the conservation message is passed on."
Julia Hawley said:
"The large numbers of dragonflies and damselflies along the riverside are a beautiful sight and show how important a good habitat is to helping to preserve these species and increase their numbers. The quality of the river is fantastic; there is almost no trace of fertilisers or pesticides, making it an ideal place for the dragonflies and damselflies to settle."
"Several interested local groups have arranged to visit the farm to see the dragonflies and damselflies as well as the many other wildlife and historic features."
For more information about dragonflies visit the British Dragonfly Society's website at http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk.
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002