Tiny rare snail discovered at nature reserve

The rare Desmoulin's whorl snail was found during fingertip searches

A wildlife trust has said it is "excited" at the discovery of a type of tiny vulnerable snail at one of its nature reserves.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust said it was previously unsure if there were any Desmoulin's whorl snails at Smallbrook Meadows in Warminster, but some have been found there for the first time.

Volunteers carried out a fingertip search through mud with the aid of magnifying glasses to find the 2mm (0.07ins) creatures.

The snail is one of the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan Species, making its conservation a high priority, and has caused planning delays previously, nearly stopping a bypass in Berkshire.

"We've been looking for suitable habitat where they aren't living to introduce them," said Connor Stapleton-Goddard, from the wildlife trust.

"They are quite restricted so they are limited to fenland habitats."

Volunteers have been carefully doing fingertip searches through nature reserves

He said the snails like very wet places in chalk areas - like those in south Wiltshire.

In the future, the trust wants to set up a captive breeding and release programme where it finds the right habitat for them.

Mr Stapleton-Goddard said changes in land use, with lots of river valleys being drained in the past, have led to a reduced population.

"The snails themselves are the base of the food chain. If you've got wetland and fenland supporting these snails then they're going to be able support a lot more," he added.

It is hoped the snails can be bred and taken to suitable habitats

The trust said the snails cannot get to other suitable habitats very easily but if they are bred, it can release them in new places.

"We're really excited to have found them on our reserves in particular because we haven't yet found them anywhere else [in Wiltshire]," added Mr Stapleton-Goddard.