• Great crested newts and lesser silver diving beetles discovered
• Species first for the nature reserve
• Natural England funded work to create scrapes for wetland habitat

Two rare wetland species have found a new home on the Shapwick Moor Nature Reserve following work to create new wetland features. This is part of action in hand across the country to recover nature and grow a national Nature Recovery Network.

Great crested newts and lesser silver diving beetles have been found at the nature reserve after Natural England funded work to create four scrapes. These are scraped out areas of earth that fill with water, creating new habitats.

The work is part of the Somerset Coast, Levels and Moors Nature Recovery Project. Neither species had been recorded on the site before, making this is an exciting discovery for the Hawk and Owl Trust owned reserve. The reserve forms part of the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve.