Damselflies return to restored Hertfordshire woods

Conservation efforts in Hertfordshire have successfully attracted a pair of new damselfly varieties to a regional forest following the completion of an extensive restoration initiative. According to the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, the Beautiful Demoiselle and Willow Emerald were recently documented at Astonbury Wood near Stevenage.

The multi-year program, titled the Wilder Woodlands project at Ancient Astonbury, was financed by a grant worth £162,698 awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This conservation undertaking encompassed seven distinct nature reserves throughout the area. Officials documented a marked increase in Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies over the course of the 2026 summer season, which the organization attributed to a rise in available wildflowers.

Traditional tree management

To enhance sunlight penetration to the ground level and help local flora and fauna flourish, approximately one football pitch of ancient woodland was returned to traditional coppicing. This historic technique involves cutting trees down at the base to cultivate a stool capable of generating fresh growth. The trust noted that hornbeam trees subjected to this method in late 2025 exhibited robust recovery despite dry seasonal weather, with additional coppicing scheduled for future dates.

At Astonbury Wood specifically, open glades that had gone unmanaged for roughly two decades were successfully restored by conservation workers. Staff cleared away heavy brambles and trees, initiating a routine of yearly cutting and raking to sustain these open ecosystems and support the dependent flowers and insects.

Iain Ward, who holds the position of wilder woodlands officer at the organization, stated that it has been wonderful observing habitats react so favorably to deliberate stewardship. He expressed hope that future efforts can repair local ponds at Astonbury Wood to keep them from drying out entirely during increasingly hot, dry summer months.