Two species of damselfly have been recorded for the first time in Astonbury Wood, Hertfordshire, following the completion of a three-year habitat restoration project. The Beautiful Demoiselle and Willow Emerald damselflies were spotted at the woodland, near Stevenage.
The Ancient Astonbury and Wilder Woodlands project, which restored habitat across seven nature reserves, was supported by a £162,698 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust reported an increase in flowers, which attracted more butterflies, with Silver-washed Fritillaries recorded in higher numbers in summer 2026 compared to previous years.
Work at Astonbury Wood included turning an ancient woodland area, the size of a football pitch, back into coppice management to allow more light to reach the woodland floor. Woodland glades were also reverted to open habitats after approximately 20 years without management, with clearing and annual cutting helping to restore them.
An area of hornbeam trees at Astonbury Wood was coppiced in December 2025 and showed "strong regrowth following its first growing season, despite the dry summer," according to the trust.