Diamond spider seen for first time since 1969
A spider thought extinct for 48 years has been found by National Trust rangers.
The tiny diamond spider, just 7mm long with a black diamond shape on its abdomen, was last seen in the UK in 1969 and it was feared lost habitat had killed off the species. However, Lucy Stockton and Trevor Harris, two trust volunteers, were astonished to find the rare arachnid while monitoring heathland at Clumber Park, Notts.
It has only been recorded in the UK three times, all of them in the South.
Ms Stockton said: “With some luck, I caught it. At the time I had no idea that it would be such a rare find. We were thrilled.”