Hand-sized spiders returning to Britain in droves after recovering from near extinction

dailystar.co.uk:

spiders that can walk on water have bounced back from the brink of extinction in Britain. The UK's biggest spiders are booming according to encouraging research which will send shivers down an arachnophobe's spine.

Despite their numbers dwindling dangerously close to ceasing to survive a decade ago, the fen raft spider is now looking healthy in numbers.

It may be the biggest of the 660 species of spider in Britain but fortunately the fen raft is unlikely to be found in homes, let alone pose any danger to humansAn RSPB report released this week stating numbers of the semi-aquatic fen raft - which has an impressive leg span of three inches - are now into the thousands.The RSPB's Tim Strudwick said: "This is one of the UK’s rarest invertebrates, as beautiful as any, and we are really proud of the part our reserve and team has played in its recovery."The females are impressive in size, but elegant and quite beautiful, even to an arachnophobe (like me!)."The best chance of spotting them is in the wetland areas, such as RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in the Norfolk Broads.Tim went on to say: "The spiders are only seen in the grazing marsh ditches, and are fairly shy, but they are easy to find from June to September when the mature females have their young."The fen raft spider is a striking creature with a dark body and cream stripes down the side.It is a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act due to its high risk of extinction.A pioneering translocation project between conservation partners and funders - which included the RSPB, as well as the British Arachnological Society, Suffolk and Sussex Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, and the Broads Authority - has helped give the species a shot in the arm. For more incredible.