Recommended Free Tools
Beautiful Demoiselle and Willow Emerald damselflies have been recorded for the first time at Astonbury Wood near Stevenage after a three-year woodland restoration project. The Ancient Astonbury and Wilder Woodlands programme worked across seven Hertfordshire nature reserves, using coppicing and glade management to increase light, flowering plants and habitat variety. The records show wildlife using the restored areas, although they are observations after management rather than proof that the project alone caused a population recovery.
Which damselflies were found?
The newly recorded species are the Beautiful Demoiselle and the Willow Emerald. Both were detected at Astonbury Wood, a reserve near Stevenage, following habitat work carried out through the Ancient Astonbury and Wilder Woodlands project.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Iain Ward, wilder woodlands officer at Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, said: “It has been fantastic to see these habitats responding so positively to careful management, and to see more wildlife making use of the restored glades and coppice areas.”
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →What the Hertfordshire project restored
The three-year project was supported by a £162,698 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2026. It covered seven sites:
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
| Nature reserve | Location |
|---|---|
| Astonbury Wood | Near Stevenage |
| Balls Wood | Near Hertford |
| Fir & Pond Woods | Near Potters Bar |
| Gobions Wood | Near Brookmans Park |
| Old Park Wood | Harefield |
| Long Deans | Hemel Hempstead |
| Hawkins Wood | Between Buntingford and Royston |
Returning an overgrown area to coppice
At Astonbury Wood, managers brought an area of ancient woodland roughly the size of a football pitch back into coppice management. Hornbeam was coppiced in December 2025. Coppicing cuts selected trees close to the ground so that multiple stems can regrow, creating a changing pattern of open and shaded conditions rather than leaving the woodland permanently dense.
Reopening and maintaining glades
Teams cleared trees and dense bramble from glades, then cut and raked them every year. The work increases sunlight at ground level and gives flowering plants room to grow. Those flowers provide nectar and other resources for insects, while the more open structure can benefit birds and other woodland wildlife.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What changed after the work?
More flowers appeared in the reopened glades, attracting butterflies. Silver-washed Fritillaries were recorded in much higher numbers in summer 2026 than in previous years. Hornbeam also showed strong regrowth after its first growing season despite the dry summer.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The damselfly sightings are an encouraging local biodiversity signal. They should be interpreted alongside longer-term monitoring, because a first record after restoration does not establish how many individuals were present before the work, whether they bred successfully, or how much of the change came from the project rather than wider weather and habitat conditions.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Why water management still matters
Woodland structure is only part of the explanation for damselfly presence. Ward said he hoped the next work would restore Astonbury Wood’s ponds and stop them drying out completely as summers become hotter and drier. Damselfly larvae develop in water, so the timing, depth and permanence of ponds can determine whether adults can colonise and persist.
A 2021 peer-reviewed study at France’s Pinail National Nature Reserve illustrates the potential effect of aquatic restoration. Researchers restored stream meanders and reconnected standing water. At the Rivau site, the average number of observed dragonfly and damselfly species rose from 5.4 to 9.9, while abundance increased by 770 percent. At Hutte, abundance increased by 475 percent. The endangered Southern Damselfly colonised both restored streams. These results come from a different reserve and restoration design, so they provide broader context rather than a direct measurement of Astonbury Wood’s outcome.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Water permanence is also central to a 2026 British Dragonfly Society project at Castle Fraser, where pond creation and habitat protection are intended to safeguard the endangered Northern Damselfly. Together, the projects show why pond hydrology needs to be planned alongside terrestrial management.
How this project can be evaluated over time
Future comparisons with other restoration schemes should track the same six factors:
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
- Habitat type: whether the work targets coppice, woodland glades, streams, ponds or a combination.
- Hydrology: pond depth, seasonal water permanence and whether streams or standing water are reconnected.
- Maintenance: cutting, raking and coppice cycles, including how often each treatment is repeated.
- Monitoring design: pre-work baselines, post-work surveys, control areas and the length of follow-up.
- Species response: first records, abundance, breeding evidence and changes in the wider insect and bird community.
- Delivery: funding, partner organisations, project duration and the area treated.
What the new records mean
The Beautiful Demoiselle and Willow Emerald records indicate that restored habitat at Astonbury Wood is being used by species not previously recorded there. Coppice regrowth, open glades and increased flowering appear to have improved the woodland’s range of conditions, while planned pond restoration could address the water shortage that threatens damselfly life cycles. Establishing whether those species become regular breeders will require repeated surveys through wetter and drier seasons.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
