PRESS RELEASE

August 2007

A rare find at Bickley Hall Farm
Discovery of the Lesser Silver Water Beetle

One of Britain’s most endangered beetles, the Lesser Silver Water Beetle, has been discovered by Cheshire Wildlife Trust at Bickley Hall Farm. This brings the number of confirmed locations of the beetle recorded since 1990 in Cheshire to 45.

When Cheshire Wildlife Trust moved to its new home of Bickley Hall Farm at the beginning of the year one of the prime reasons was to protect and observe the natural environment of the 200 acre estate, which has been managed free of pesticides and herbicides for over 40 years. This early discovery is an amazing find and creates a unique opportunity for the long term study of the beetle and assured protection.

The discovery was made by Jim Hollinshead from Liverpool John Moores University, who was carrying out a routine survey of the farm’s ponds for amphibians.

Jim says, “By pure co-incidence I’d recently been having a conversation with Andy Harmer the Local Biodiversity Action Plan co-ordinator for the Lesser Silver Water Beetle, so when I came across an egg cocoon I was in no doubt as to the significance of the find. A week later we were overjoyed to confirm this with a sighting of an adult beetle.”

The Lesser Silver Water Beetle is one of our largest water beetles, measuring 14 to 18 mm in length. Its clever design incorporates thick, felty hairs to the underside that trap an air bubble, providing oxygen during a dive.

The Lesser Silver Water Beetle is threatened by the demise of ponds and a changes in management. When cattle are allowed to graze near ditches they restrict the growth of vegetation and the shallow depressions caused by their hooves fill with water, providing the ideal habitat for the beetle`s developing eggs. Fencing of ponds, conversion of grazing marsh to arable land, infilling of ponds, agricultural improvement and loss of ponds to urban development have all therefore contributed to the critical situation that the Lesser Silver Water Beetle faces.

CWT’s Chief Executive Chris Mahon says “Some people may think this beetle is insignificant but in many ways it represents what Cheshire Wildlife Trust is all about. Conserving this rare species and the natural habitat it depends upon is very much what is needed, not just for the beetle but for people too. It is an indicator of a healthy environment and its loss to extinction would show that our human society was not taking care of its natural assets. Thereafter, it is a slippery slope as the web of life is gradually unravelled and our natural life support systems eroded. So we shall do our bit to safeguard this species and encourage our members and others to do their bit too".

You can find out more about projects such as the Lesser Silver Beetle by becoming a member of Cheshire Wildlife Trust. As well as the knowledge that you are helping to support environmental projects such as this, as a member you will receive regular magazines about the work of the Trust and be able to take part in its active events programme throughout the year.

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