BDS bids farewell to Chris Iles and welcomes new CDRs

17/03/2025

Chris Iles, after many, many years dedicated to the role of County Dragonfly Recorder for Somerset (Vice Counties 5 and 6), is stepping down. The BDS thanks him for all his hard work, which has made a significant contribution to the conservation of dragonflies in Somerset.

Taking over his role are Chris Cardno and Jon Van-Gowler who introduce themselves below. . .

 

Chris Cardno: “I have a background as a specialist in Marketing & Research before moving into self-employment as a Project Management / Business Analysis for Global IT projects.

Having retired, I was keen to spend a lot more time away from the laptop, out in the field. Having been a keen amateur nature watcher and photographer, I began volunteering for RSPB Ham Wall on the Avalon Marshes, undertaking Avian and Odonata surveys as well as a lot of reserve maintenance. I have also personally initiated Odonata Surveys at Priddy Pools on the Mendips.

During this time, I also began attending a local group who ran educational walks and talks on a wide range of topics, including Odonata.  This sparked a real interest in Odonata and a very rapid learning curve.

I was keen to learn more and to ensure that the great work being done by volunteer surveyors resulted in records being captured and used upstream for scientific research, ensuring the effort was captured and had a clear purpose.

To this end when I was asked by David Hepper if I would work with Jon, a very experienced Odonatologist, as Joint County Recorder for Somerset, I was happy to accept. “

 

Jon Van-Gowler was a professional musician and lifelong Odonatologist, starting in the 1960’s by studying Dragonfly biology via ‘Tillyard’.  Later studying Odonata phenology and the distribution of species worldwide.

Jon has undertaken long-term study and breeding of Larvae until metamorphosis including rearing from eggs. Has done this with most of the British fauna.

Regularly being sought out to give expert talks and providing consultancy on Odonata, including habitat creation and preservation, by organisations nationwide.

Finally coerced into becoming Somerset County Recorder and training up Chris as his apprentice.”

Our primary ‘patch’ in 2024 has been the Avalon Marshes which form the majority of the new ‘Super NNR’ stretching from WWT Steart Marshes on Bridgwater Bay, inland as far as Glastonbury and Wells in Somerset.

 

Welcome to the team Chris and Jon!

 

Image: Ham Wall by K.S. Coombs