Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Festival highlights include daily pond dipping, guided Dragonfly Walks, Dragonfly Canoe Safaris and Giant outdoor games, offering visitors plenty of opportunities to get closer to wetlands and wildlife. Families can also enjoy circus skills workshops, silent discos, dragonfly face painting, wing-making workshops, festival bracelet making and special dragonfly macrophotography workshops with Paul Way.

Throughout the summer, live music performances by The Lily Pond will bring a vibrant festival atmosphere to the wetlands, with performances from Awen Duo, Gareth and Joseph Lewis, Megan Morris, Andy Mulligan and Carley Knight. Visitors can also enjoy storytelling sessions including Babis Bach Babies Storytelling and Live Harp, weekly art workshops with Rhiannon Collins and magical appearances from the Dragonfly Bubbleologist. During the August Bank Holiday weekend, a caricaturist will transform visitors into dragonfly-inspired artworks to take home.

Set within 600 acres of stunning wetlands on the Carmarthenshire coast, the Dragonfly Festival at WWT Llanelli offers unforgettable outdoor adventures, creative experiences and inspiring wildlife encounters for all ages.

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT Llanelli or free to WWT members. Some activities including canoe safaris can be enjoyed for an additional cost.

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/llanelli/whats-on/dragonfly-festival-at-llanelli-wetland-centre

Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Festival highlights include Canoe Safaris, pond dipping sessions, exploring the Summer Walkway, Weekend Wild Safaris and outdoor adventures in Welly Boot Land and Riverlife play, complete with water play and zip wire fun. Visitors can discover the incredible wetlands of WWT Slimbridge while getting closer to dragonflies and the habitats they depend on.

Special headline events throughout the summer include the See Like a Dragonfly drone flight experience, Balance Like a Dragonfly circus skills workshops and stilt walker performances, the Dance Like a Dragonfly silent disco and interactive Dragonfly Science Shows exploring the fascinating world of these dazzling insects.

Set within one of the UK’s most iconic wetland reserves, the Dragonfly Festival at WWT Slimbridge offers unforgettable outdoor adventures, hands-on discovery and exciting family experiences all summer long. 

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT Slimbridge or free to WWT members. Some special headline activities including safaris and kite making can be enjoyed for an additional cost.

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/whats-on/dragonfly-festival-at-slimbridge-wetland-centre

Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Festival highlights include self-led Dragonfly Safaris on foot, GIANT Dragonfly Games in the Wildlife Garden, dragonfly craft activities in the Outlook In building and daily Boat Safaris through Arundel’s beautiful waterways and wetlands. Weekend and holiday pond dipping sessions offer visitors the chance to discover the underwater world where dragonflies begin their lives.

Special headline events throughout the summer include dragonfly willow weaving workshops for both children and adults, Dragons and Damsels collage workshops, drop-in dragonfly crafts with Zsofi from Naturemakers and guided Dragonfly Walks with expert Paul Stevens. Families can also enjoy facepainting, live Water Music performances with guitarist Tony Randall, the immersive PondLife light and sound experience and the Pondemonium Silent Disco.

Set within the stunning Sussex wetlands of WWT Arundel, the Dragonfly Festival offers the perfect chance to get closer to nature, discover wetland wildlife and enjoy unforgettable summer adventures together.

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT Arundel or free to WWT members. Some special headline events and some activities including pond dipping and boat safari tours can be enjoyed for an additional cost.

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/arundel/whats-on/dragonfly-festival-at-arundel-wetland-centre

Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Festival highlights include Dragonfly Safaris, pond dipping, mini beast hunting, Giant Dragonfly Games and dragonfly chalk art, alongside water play in the popular Splash Pad play area. Families can swoosh, leap and dart through the wetlands while discovering more about the fascinating lives of dragonflies and the habitats they depend on.

Special headline events throughout the summer include Wednesday Workshops, storytelling sessions, dragonfly mobile making, insect circus performances and opening weekend appearances from Professor Slug’s House of Bugs. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, visitors can also enjoy special performances from Upstream Theatre’s dragonfly-inspired puppet show.

Set within 105 acres of beautiful urban wetlands in Barnes and a Dragonfly Hotspot, the Dragonfly Festival at WWT London offers the perfect opportunity to get closer to nature and enjoy unforgettable summer adventures for all ages. 

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT London or free to WWT members

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/whats-on/dragonfly-festival-at-london-wetland-centre

Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Festival highlights include the Journey of the Dragonfly Trail, dragonfly hunts, pond dipping sessions, guided walks and outdoor games designed to help visitors discover the fascinating lives of dragonflies and the wetlands they call home. Families can also enjoy self-led crafts, activity sheets and seed paper wristband making, alongside beautifully themed festival decorations, banners and bunting across the site.

Visitors will also have opportunities to take part in a dragonfly-themed photo competition and special dragonfly identification workshops with expert David Chandler. Collaborations with local groups, including Ely Photographic Society, are also planned as part of the festival programme.

Set within the stunning Ouse Washes landscape, the Dragonfly Festival at WWT Welney offers the perfect chance to connect with nature, learn more about wetlands and enjoy memorable outdoor experiences throughout the summer.

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT Welney or free to WWT members

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/welney/dragonfly-festival-at-welney-wetland-centre

Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Festival highlights include the Giant Dragonfly Hunt, pond dipping, self-guided bug hunts and dragonfly-themed outdoor games, alongside hands-on activities in the family craft room where visitors can create their own dragonfly-inspired crafts. Families can also enjoy Paddle and Play, canoe safaris and guided boat tours through Martin Mere’s beautiful wetlands, reedbeds and waterways, with new opportunities to explore the wet meadow and stepping stones area.

Special headline events throughout the summer include Dragonfly Walks, a Dragonfly Bubble Party, interactive Dragonfly Science Shows, circus skills workshops and story time sessions designed to inspire children and families to discover more about wetlands and wildlife.

Set within the stunning wetlands of WWT Martin Mere, the Dragonfly Festival offers the perfect opportunity to get closer to nature, learn more about dragonflies and enjoy unforgettable outdoor adventures all summer long.

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT Martin Mere or free to WWT members. Some activities like the canoe safari can be enjoyed for an additional cost.

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere/whats-on/dragonfly-festival-at-martin-mere-wetland-centre

Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Festival highlights include the Dragonfly Safari trail, giant games, water play, den building and adventure play areas and immersive experiences. These include the Sonic Pond audio trail, a vibrating kaleidoscope dome and the Dino Dragonfly Hunt through the wet woodland. Visitors can also enjoy face painting, silent discos, local acoustic musicians and buskers and a festival message wall. There will also be creative craft sessions including dragonfly bunting decorating, flag making, pipe-cleaner dragonflies and bug house building.

Daily drop-in activities throughout the summer include pond dipping, mini beast hunts, dragonfly crafts, wild walk safaris and opportunities to make your own mini wetland. Visitors can also discover more about wetland wildlife through otter talks, moth mornings and dragonfly surveys and talks taking place across the festival programme.

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT Washington or free to WWT members.

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington/whats-on/dragonfly-festival-at-washington-wetland-centre

Enjoy a summer of dragonfly-themed events and activities. Explore the magical world of dragonflies and dive into a summer full of wondrous new wetland experiences.

Discover these fascinating insects through family-friendly activities, hands-on experiences and outdoor adventures inspired by one of nature’s most incredible species. Visitors can enjoy the Dragonfly Safari trail, pond dipping, giant outdoor games, bug hunting, creative activities and adventure play, alongside special headline acts from circus to musical performances taking place throughout the summer.

Set within the beautiful wetlands of Castle Espie, the festival offers a chance to get closer to nature, learn more about dragonflies and explore the important habitats they depend on.

The festival is included in the price of admission ticket to WWT Castle Espie or free to WWT members.

Full details can be found here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/castle-espie/whats-on/dragonfly-festival-at-castle-espie-wetland-centre

Head outside with your class and explore with one or more of the National Education Nature Park’s nature surveys. Count pollinators, record grassland plants or observe species with iNaturalist. Every observation your learners make builds a national picture of nature across school grounds, which until now has been a bit of a mystery. This picture is vital information — it allows you to make the most of your outdoor space by making evidence-based decisions, while working with Natural History Museum scientists to conduct groundbreaking research into nature recovery.

Plus, this isn’t a one-off. You can do the same surveys year after year and watch the story unfold, seeing first-hand how your efforts through the Nature Park are transforming local wildlife, and tracking your setting’s impact alongside schools across England.

Nature Discovery Week is a chance to be part of something bigger. Together, schools, nurseries and colleges across England have the power to make a real, measurable difference to our planet, and it all starts with stepping outside. We’ve also got some special digital badges you can download for each survey that you do during the week!

Insect Week 2026 is set to be the biggest yet!

RES will be delivering a vibrant programme of free public activities led by leading entomologists, educators, museums, universities and conservation organisations.
From 22–28 June, they’ll be bringing free, hands-on insect science to communities across five city hubs, helping thousands of people take part in educational activities, resources and events across the UK and ROI to help children and young people access entomology in a real way, and discover the incredible diversity, beauty and importance of insects.

What to expect:

Wales Nature Week makes it easy for everyone to get involved – however you choose

You could:

• Host your own event or activity
• Join something happening near you
• Explore your local area
• Write a poem or get creative
• Or simply pause, look again, and notice the nature in everyday life.

Be part of it:

Why not host your own event and help Wales celebrate?

Or spread the word and share what nature means to you using #WalesNatureWeek

Full details and resources

The extent and rate of insect declines are much discussed, and with the recent Call for Evidence on veterinary medicines containing fipronil or imidacloprid making global headlines, this talk is highly relevant and not one to miss.

Dave will focus on one driver of insect declines – our use of pesticides. He will highlight the global extent of pesticide use, but with a particular focus on use in gardens and as flea and tick treatments on domestic pets. He will explain the latest evidence that these uses are resulting in widespread contamination of rivers with potent insecticides.

The talk will be chaired by one of the RES Trustees or Events Committee.

Connecting evidence and communities for smarter land and water management

As part of its commitment to creating rivers fit for the future, The Rivers Trust has been at the forefront of driving forward a Catchment-Based Approach. Working in partnership with local Trusts, authorities, charities, land managers and user groups, we are transforming how rivers are managed.

There is a growing recognition of the benefits of a catchment approach across the UK and Ireland – from an environmental, economic and political perspective. We want to share our learnings to build on this to benefit even more rivers and the communities that rely on them.

Issues like flooding, pollution, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss can be only tackled effectively if rivers are treated in tandem with the catchments that feed them. Similarly, our land is better placed to meet food needs, provide healthy habitat for wildlife, and contribute to a sustainable economy if the surrounding water environment is healthy. In order to make that happen, and we must ensure that the right actions are being taken in the right places.

2026 should see key pieces of water-related policy and legislation progressed that could be transformative for rivers. It is vital that delivery on the ground is rooted in robust data and evidence and carried out in partnership with communities. We need to treat water as the precious natural resource it is, nurturing landscapes that embrace water and make space for it. From our data-driven public campaigns to our innovative approach to funding nature-based solutions, these key elements all align with the work and values of the Rivers Trust Movement, and we’ll be unpacking how to get them right in our free, online, 2026 Annual Conference.

We’re putting together an engaging programme featuring keynote speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, and inspiring case studies. You can expect to hear a range of voices from the Rivers Trust Movement, the wider environmental sector, technical experts, industry, landowners, governance, and campaigners. Register now to join the conversation.

The UK’s popular insect citizen science survey is back – bigger, earlier and bolder than ever. Bugs Matter the bug-splat-counting survey, organised by Buglife and Kent Wildlife Trust, launches on Wednesday 1 April and runs through to Wednesday 30 September. That’s a full month earlier than previous years, timed to coincide with Citizen Science Month and tocapture precious early-season data.

Twice a year, we run a Big River Watch, and the next one will take place between 24th and 30th April 2026. Anyone can take part in these week-long citizen science surveys that help to build an important picture of river health across the UK and Ireland.

Our rivers are far from healthy. They’re polluted with sewage, plastic, chemicals and nutrients, and just 15% of river stretches in England are in good overall health.

To restore them, we need more information about how they’re doing. You can help us identify and locate the problems. With the Big River Watch app, you can help us identify the issues, which help us influence policymakers and hold polluters to account.

Image by Neil Howard

The Biodiversity Shorts are a series of webinars that delve into a range of natural history topics, with live discussion and tuition from an expert tutor. All webinars will be hosted on Zoom, and they will be approximately one hour long, including time for questions from participants.

This River and Riparian Stewardship course is a four-day extended residential experience with additional online learning and assessment delivered in partnership between the Field Studies Council and Riverlution. Designed for those looking to build real-world skills, the course combines hands-on river and habitat management with expert tuition.

The Aquatic Insects Special Interest Group event brings together researchers, conservation practitioners and enthusiasts to explore cutting-edge approaches in aquatic ecosystem monitoring and management.

Through hands-on workshops and expert presentations, participants will gain practical skills in modern analytical techniques while engaging with current challenges in freshwater biodiversity conservation.

The event will comprise of a full day meeting on Thursday 26 February with an optional morning workshop on Friday 27 February (included in the price).

The 8th edition of the European Congress on Odonatology (ECOO) will take place for the very first time in Poland!

The organizing team is working tirelessly to ensure an unforgettable experience and a warm welcome to the land of Polish dragonflies. Poland is home to over 70 species of Odonata – from the commonly seen to the exceptionally rare. Among the rarest are Cordulegaster boltonii, Aeshna subarctica, and Coenagrion armatum. Learn more at https://wazki.pl/start.html

Conference Venue

The congress will be held from 23 to 26 June 2026 in Teresin, located just 40 km west of Warsaw. The venue is the historic Niepokalanów Monastery, founded over a century ago and run by the Conventual Franciscan Friars.

What to Expect

Over three days, participants will enjoy a rich program of engaging presentations, discussions on the latest research in Odonatology, and of course—good coffee and delicious pierogi!

One full day will be dedicated to a field trip to Kampinos National Park and its surroundings, including unique peat bogs and raised bogs. Located near Warsaw, Kampinos is one of Poland’s largest national parks, offering a rare mix of forests, wetlands, and dunes.

For the more adventurous, a post-congress tour is planned for 27 June to 3 July 2026, exploring the wild and beautiful nature of northern Poland, including the scenic Kashubian region.

Stay Tuned

We are currently finalizing all organizational details. Information about registration, travel, accommodation, and meals will begin to appear starting this autumn via our newsletter, website, and social media channels.

Freshwater invertebrates are a diverse and vital part of aquatic ecosystems in the UK, inhabiting rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. These diverse animals include insects, molluscs, crustaceans, and leeches. They play a key role in food webs and are often used as indicators for water quality.

This self-led course equips participants with essential identification skills for studying freshwater invertebrates. Providing an introduction to the main taxonomic groups commonly found in the UK’s freshwater habitats, this Freshwater Invertebrates course will help you develop a deeper understanding of their diversity and ecological importance.

Freshwater invertebrates are a diverse and vital part of aquatic ecosystems in the UK, inhabiting rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. These diverse animals include insects, molluscs, crustaceans, and leeches. They play a key role in food webs and are often used as indicators for water quality.

This self-led course equips participants with essential identification skills for studying freshwater invertebrates. Providing an introduction to the main taxonomic groups commonly found in the UK’s freshwater habitats, this Freshwater Invertebrates course will help you develop a deeper understanding of their diversity and ecological importance.

An illustrated talk with Kate Hawkins, introducing the dragonflies and damselflies of the Isle of Man, with tips on their ecology, behaviour and identification.

The event is free with no need to book, however donations are welcome.

There will also be some light refreshments.

Image by Dave Smallshire

Come and join us for this year’s annual Insect Show, hosted by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Entomological Society (DaNES).

Delve into the wonderful world of insects and their relatives through interactive displays, mounted specimens and live exhibits. A variety of local and national organisations will have stands and fascinating talks will be held throughout the day, with something to interest all ages.

The show will take place in the Bramley Building, which is part of NTU’s Brackenhurst Campus. It is easy to find, located next to the A612 just south of Southwell. The Nottingham-Southwell bus stops outside, and for those coming by car there will be ample space for parking. There is also a lift by the entrance to the show and wheelchair access.

So … with plenty to see and do, the Orangery café for refreshments, and Brackenhurst’s idyllic rural grounds to explore for some late-season insect life … why not come along and make a day of it!

Join Canvey Wick Community Warden, Katie, for a special summer Walk the Wick event: Dragonfly Safari!

A social walk to connect with nature. All welcome!

Meet for refreshments and a chat from 10am at Morrison’s Community Room.

UPDATE 18/07/2025: PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS WEATHER DEPENDENT DUE TO THUNDERSTORM FORECAST. PLEASE CONTACT EVENT ORGANISERS FOR UP TO DATE INFO.

Dragonfly Day at Queen Elizabeth Park Grantham, Slate Mill Pl, Grantham NG31 8FJ.

This is a free public event on Saturday 19th July, 11-3pm.

Join us as we showcase all that our wonderful Centre and Onny Meadows have to offer, entirely free!

Enjoy our Shropshire Hills Through Time exhibition, walks and talks around the Onny Meadows and children’s entertainment and face painting, all free for visitors to enjoy.

What’s on

• Face painting
• Free exhibition
• Garden games
• Walks and talks
• Kids’ craft activities

To celebrate National Dragonfly Week, Ian will guide this gentle stroll around our Onny Meadows. This is a good time to
see several of the larger, more spectacular dragonflies commonly found in Shropshire. Our ponds and the River Onny combined with insect-filled meadows provide a rich habitat for these hunting insects.

Book here

As well as delving into the pond, we’ll be going for a short guided walk, to search for dragonflies (and damselflies) on the wing. Plus a chance to listen underwater, using a hydrophone.

Times:

• 10:30 – 12:00
• 13:00 – 14:30

Normal admission applies for non-members. Members are asked to bring their membership cards for scanning. If you are trying to book on the day of the event, please call the Visitor Centre on 01353 720274 to check if spaces are available.