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  6. Chalkstream Invertebrates Project – What we are doing

Chalkstream Invertebrates Project - What we are doing

Working with Landowners

  • Suitable crayfish habitatArguably the key factor in the decline of southern damselfly is the loss of suitable habitat. Southern damselfly require shallow streams or ditches with a slow to moderate year round flow and abundant plant growth such as fool's-watercress along the margins but little or preferably no shading.
  • This habitat loss is often simply due to inappropriate management, either as a result of a lack of or due to over-management.
  • The Chalkstream Invertebrates Project is therefore not only working with landowners and partner organisations (i.e Environment Agency and Natural England) to create new southern damselfly sites, but advising landowners at existing and historic sites in setting an appropriate management regime.
  • Furthermore, the Chalkstream Invertebrate Project is working with landowners at, upstream, and downstream of our remaining white-clawed crayfish populations to consolidate and expand our existing populations through habitat enhancement and management.

Raise Awareness

  • Invertebrates and their habitat requirement are often poorly understood and over looked. However, their role in the functioning of habitats cannot be understated.
  • The Chalkstream Invertebrates Project is putting particular focus on the target species, especially the threats posed by the introduced American signal crayfish to all our chalk river animals.
  • This includes the production of an information booklet, Crayfish and River Users, which explains how everybody who spends time around our chalk rivers and streams can help. Download the booklet here.

Improve Knowledge  

  • Mead Mill by Ben RushbrookTo conserve species such as southern damselfly and white-clawed crayfish it is crucial to have current information about their distribution, ecology and the specific threats posed to these species locally.
  • The Chalkstream Invertebrates Project is collecting information on the distribution of southern damselfly and white-clawed and signal crayfish in Hampshire through targeted survey work and the collation of sightings sent in to the Trust.
  • This information is then passed to the relevant organisations and authorities do ensure that southern damselfly, white-clawed crayfish conservation is considered during decision making processes such as planning, water management and fish stocking.