THE rare blue-tailed damselfly, a nationally-scarce species previously unseen in Worcestershire, has made the Lea Castle development near Kidderminster its home.

Another rare insect, the emperor dragonfly, has also made Vistry Group’s new biodiverse development its home, a development that achieved ‘Building with Nature’ accreditation in 2021.

Vistry, a leading mixed-tenure developer, has seen incredible success in its stormwater impounding pool at the Homes England site.

The innovative storage area has not only proven effective in managing water resources and preventing flooding but also become a thriving habitat for a variety of rare and exciting species.

The former Lea Castle hospital site is surrounded by woodland which is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species.

Adam Sharpe, Vistry’s managing director of South West Midlands, said: “We are delighted to witness the positive impact our stormwater storage area has had on the local biodiversity.

“The presence of these rare insects highlights the importance of incorporating sustainable practices into urban development.

“We hope that our success at Lea Castle will inspire more initiatives to prioritise both environmental conservation and functional infrastructure.”

Eiryl McCook, senior planning manager of Homes England, said: “It is fantastic news that these dragonfly species are at Lea Castle.

“This is clear evidence that it is possible to enhance biodiversity whilst simultaneously providing much-needed homes.

“Building with Nature has been an essential tool that has helped to achieve this great outcome.”

Vistry and Homes England worked with partners at Worcestershire Green Infrastructure Partnership and borough and county ecologists.

In June 2021 Vistry was awarded a Building with Nature Design Award for the development.