A former intensive dairy farm in Somerset has been transformed into a haven for dragonflies.
The owners of Wyke Farm, near Crewkerne, have spent the last 20 years working to bring wildlife back to the farm.
Rob and Alex Appleby bought the farm in 2000 and have since created new water bodies, woodland blocks, and wildflower meadows, restored hedgerows, reintroduced native breed livestock, and greatly reduced chemical inputs.
This has resulted in more than 3,000 wildlife species being recorded at the farm.
A recent study published on the Wyke Farm website shows there has been a large influx of dragonflies to the new lake and series of ponds created.
A total of 19 species were recorded by the survey, representing 40 to 50 per cent of all the dragonflies known to breed regularly in Dorset.
Noteworthy species included Small Red-eyed Damselfly - first recorded in the UK in 1999, Brown Hawker, Hairy Dragonfly, and good numbers of Four-spotted Chaser.
To download the report and find out more about wildlife conservation at Wyke Farm, go to wykefarm.com or visit the open day as part of the National Garden Scheme on Thursday, June 22.
Professor Tom Brereton, who spearheaded the survey, said: "It was really surprising and encouraging to see so many dragonfly species colonising in such a short space of time."
Rob Appleby of Wyke Farm said: "We are delighted that dragonflies are now thriving at Wyke Farm, and to see that all our hard work around the farm is reaping benefits to wildlife."
Dragonflies have been around for more than 300 million years, predating dinosaurs, and are recognised as biodiversity indicators of healthy wetland environments due to their sensitivity to environmental changes.
Information on their status is therefore important in measuring the success of wetland conservation projects.
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