Singing cicadas return to UK after three decades

Cicadas were last seen in the New Forest in the 1990s

Musical insects that went extinct in the UK have been brought back to the country from France by conservationists hoping to re-establish their population.

Scientists from the Species Recovery Trust (SRT) this week released 11 New Forest cicadas into a specially created habitat at Paultons Park - just outside the Hampshire woods where they once sang.

The New Forest cicada was once found across the national park - but the last confirmed sightings were in the 1990s.

Charlotte Carne, from the SRT, said the reintroduction project was "like bringing them back from the dead."

She added that it was "amazing to see New Forest cicadas in England after all this time" following the "really challenging project".

Conservationists plan to release the adults at secret locations in the New Forest

Conservationists believe the insects became extinct in the UK because of changes to the way land was managed.

Earlier this week 11 female cicadas were captured in northern France, before being shipped to the UK.

It is thought that some of the insects are already pregnant and have been laying eggs in their specially created habitat near Romsey.

The species' young spend at least four years underground, meaning the trust will not know if the re-introduction has been successful until 2029 at the earliest.

If they survive, the conservationists plan to release the adults at secret locations in the New Forest.

The first-of-its-kind project has been partly funded by Natural England, which said it represented a "remarkable achievement".

Graham Norton, from Natural England, added: "After years of absence, we finally have New Forest cicada on English shores again and we look forward to the next phase of the project to explore re-establishing this species in the New Forest."

It is thought some of the insects are already pregnant and have been laying eggs in their specially created habitat near Romsey