A RARE dragonfly that is on the brink of extinction in South Lakeland is set to be re-introduced to an area where it hasn’t been seen for decades.

Records show that the white-faced darter was present on the Witherslack Mosses in the early 1900s but it is thought to have become extinct as a result of afforestation and scrub development.

The colourful species, which is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, has seen a notable decline in England over the past 40 years and three colonies in Cumbria are known to have been lost since 1945.

There is a single colony left on Scaleby Moss, near Carlisle, and two other populations near Hawkshead and Ambleside, although these are thought to only consist of a few individuals.

But now the white-faced darter could enjoy the open space of Witherslack Mosses once more after a study carried out by Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Tullie House Museum and the British Dragonfly Society confirmed it feasable to re-introduce the species back to the area.

It will be the first time the white-faced darter has been re-introduced to a site - the trust was pipped to the post to be the first to re-introduce any dragonfly after Devon Wildlife Trust successfully released the Southern Damselfly at a nature reserve last year.

David Harpley, conservation manager at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “The white-faced darter’s populations in South Lakeland are on the brink of extinction but hopefully this spring or summer it will be re-introduced if the pools are suitable.”

Mr Harpley said that the first larvae, which will be taken from the site near Carlisle, will be introduced back into pools on Foulshaw Moss and more will be taken over the next few years to build a sustainable population.

Numbers will be monitored by counting the larvae’s skins.

The project forms part of the Cumbria Biodiversity Action Plan, which outlines how national biodiversity targets will be met locally.