Sign 10: A Closer Look ….

Water Voles

The Gade River’s habitat within the park is ideal for water voles. With the decline of mink, their primary predator, water voles should be able to recolonize the area. While they are present downstream at Croxley Moor, concrete barriers prevent them from migrating upstream. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are working to find a solution to this problem and we hope that we will then be able to welcome ‘Ratty’ back to Watford. 

Dragonflies and Damselflies

In the Summer the Banded emoiselle is the most common damselfly to be seen.  The male has broad blue bands on its wings, so they are easily identified.  

How to tell dragonflies and damselflies apart?

Damselflies are delicate and smaller than Dragonflies, with eyes on each side of their rectangular head. They have a fluttering flight, with the front and back pairs of wings equal size. When a damselfly is resting, the wings are usually held closed.

Dragonflies are larger and more robust, with eyes that meet in the middle of their head. Their front wings are narrower than their hindwings and when resting, both pairs are held wide open.