When the pool and wetland area in Compton Park was first created, the mix of vegetation planted still left plenty of open water. Among the other species attracted in these early years were lots of different types of damselflies and dragonflies, including these common blue damselflies.
Quite rapidly, the vegetation took over, so that in recent years there was very little visible open water at all. Mallards and moorhens stopped nesting there. Fewer and fewer damselflies and dragonflies, representing fewer and fewer species, put in an appearance.
Finally, some effort has been put into managing the pond. An area of open water has been recreated. Will it have been enough to attract back some of the missing insects?