Meet our new Conservation Outreach Officer!
Lauren Kennedy joined the BDS team this month as the new Conservation Outreach Officer. Lauren: “Growing up in South Wales I was not short of amazing wild spaces to explore, I soon became obsessed with botany and a wide range of invertebrate groups. I went on to study a BSc Biology at Cardiff University followed…
In-depth Identification Feature – Large Red Damselflies by John Curd
Now that Large Red Damselflies are starting to emerge we thought it was a good time to delve into an in-depth identification feature on this species. John Curd has kindly written this feature and put together some useful photo guides too: Anticipating Large Reds, by John Curd It’s the same every year: as…
Country Dragonfly Recorder Reports 2021
You can now read your latest local Country Dragonfly Recorder reports detailing the highlights from the 2021 season and activities happening this year. Download them here.
Spring Meeting 2022: give us your feedback
We hope you enjoyed the BDS Spring Meeting! Help us make the next event even better by filling out this short questionnaire.
Thank You For Raising Free Funds For Dragonflies!
Thank you to everyone who has signed up to Give As You Live already and helped to raise £100 in free donations for us, just by shopping. It doesn’t cost you a penny extra and really is simple: When you shop at over 5,500 top stores including John Lewis & Partners, Expedia and Marks &…
Northern Damselflies on Countryfile – Sunday 9 January 2022
Tune into Countryfile on BBC 1 this Sunday (9 January) for a sneak peek into the world of the endangered Northern Damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum). The segment will be hosted by Xander Johnston, aka ‘Antboy’, a young Cairngorms-based entomologist; you can check out his social media below: Youtube: Xander Johnston – AntBoy Instagram: @antboy396 Countryfile…
Help to End the Retail Sale of Peat in Horticulture
The Government has launched a consultation on the subject of ending the retail sale of peat in horticulture. Please take a few minutes to have your say on this important issue. There is no need for peat-based compost to be used when perfectly good alternatives exist. Peatlands are biodiverse habitats that support rare species like…
Comment on our Draft Strategy 2022-2026
The BDS has published its Draft Strategy 2022-2026. You can read it and comment on it here. Image: Willow Emerald Damselfly female by Bruce Hyde
Dragonflies & Damselflies of Britain and Ireland Field Guide available as Apple App
An updated version of NatureGuides Ltd. Dragonflies & Damselflies of Britain and Ireland Field Guide is now available to download for £9.99 from the Apple app store. If you have the original version downloaded, it is available as a free update. The download features. . . A comprehensive field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies…
Dragonflies disappear around the world as wetlands are lost
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has conducted its first ever global Red List assessment of Odonata (dragonflies). The study concluded that 16% of 6,016 species assessed are at risk of extinction. The species’ decline correlates to the deterioration and destruction of their wetland breeding habitats. Habitat loss, in many countries, is linked to…