Endangered spider species found in Burnham

An endangered species of spider which lives in only five places around the country has been found in Burnham.

Conservationists have discovered the tiny Midas tree-weaver, also known as the Midia Midas, living amongst ancient pollard trees in Burnham Beeches. 

The national nature reserve is the first new site found to be to home to the 2mm arachnid, which is a relative of the money spider, in more than 30 years.

Conservation officer Dr Helen Read said the spider is only found in rare ancient woodlands including Windsor Forest.

She said: "The character of the woodland at the Beeches was created over centuries by people cutting the trees for firewood and allowing animals to graze the land beneath.

"The management of the land as wood pasture is ultimately what has provided the perfect habitat for these spiders."

Grazing livestock including British White cows and Exmoor ponies were brought back to the Beeches in the early 1990’s to help restore and maintain the ancient wood pasture.

Pitfalls set up in three trees by Dr Read, Tony Russell-Smith, from the British Arachnological Society and volunteer Martin Albertini trapped eight individual examples of the rare spider, which is listed as a nationally endangered species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Dr Read said the findings suggest the woodland has a 'viable' population.

A spokesman for the City of London, which owns and manages the ancient woodland, said it hopes work being carried out to preserve the trees using grazing animals will ensure the long-term survival of the spider as well as 60 other rare species.