Dragonflies of the Breney Common
An opportunity to see the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies, Small Red Damselflies and 16 other species that have made the Red River Valley Local Nature Reserve at Great Wheal Seton, Rosewarne Mill and Bell Lake Marsh their home.
Image: Scarce Blue-tailed by Steve Jones
A Dragonfly Hotspot event: a chance to see the species of mid-summer, including both red-eyed damselflies, Emerald Damselfly and skimmers.
Two walks: 10am – 1pm and 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Booking not necessary.
Image: Small Red-eyed Damselfly by Dave Smallshire
A chance to see early emergers such as Hairy Dragonfly, Downy Emerald and Scarce Chaser, and to describe how visitors can gain access to closed-off areas in order to record dragonflies.
Booking not necessary.
Image: Hairy Dragonfly by Dave Smallshire
Morning walk (approx. 3 hours) to look for a broad range of dragonfly species, including Norfolk Hawker and Variable Damselfly.
Leader / contact: Dr Pam Taylor – Norfolk Dragonfly Recorder
Email: to book or phone 01493 509596
Meet: 10.00am at Upton Fen car park, TG379136. Postcode NR13 6EQ (Low Road).
From Acle, Norwich or Wroxham head towards South Walsham, then follow signs for Pilson Green. Local public transport services are limited. The nearest train station is Acle (3.5 miles).
Image: Norfolk Hawker by Pam Taylor
Joint meeting with Freshwater Habitats Trust to explore the numerous ponds of the Military Training Area. An FHT Flagship Ponds site, to date 19 species of Odonata have been recorded. We will be looking for Common Hawker and Black Darter in particular.
Leaders – Keith Gittens, Anne Carter
Image: Common Hawker by Dave Smallshire
Joint meeting with Freshwater Habitats Trust to explore some newly created ponds at this heathland nature reserve. An FHT Flagship Ponds site, we will also be searching for Common Hawker and Black Darter.
Leaders – Keith Gittens, Anne Carter
Image by Iain Leach
Joint meeting with Yoredale Natural History Society. Some 15 species of Odonata have been recorded at this restored quarry site and many of these should be on the wing in July. We will be on the lookout for Small Red-eyed Damselfly, which has yet to be recorded at the site.
Leader – Keith Gittens
Image: Small Red-eyed Damselfly by Bruce Hyde
More information to come.
A joint meeting of BDS Hants, Surrey, Berkshire Group with Butterfly Conservation, Surrey branch, led by Francis Kelly, an expert in both.
Wildwood is an abandoned golf course with numerous “water features”. 24 species of Odonata have been recorded across 18+ ponds. Also look out for the very rare Brown Hairstreak butterfly.
A return visit following last years’ trip during dull weather, to further explore the various habitats at this wetland complex. Previous records for July include a good range of species, with the possibility of Lesser Emperor.
Wellies or waterproof footwear recommended for the cattle-grazed marsh in the morning, then an afternoon look at the open water on nearby Spynes Mere.
A joint meeting of BDS Hants, Surrey, Berkshire Group with Butterfly Conservation, Surrey branch.
In 2025 we saw mating Scarce Chaser there for the first time. Also: Hairy Dragonfly, Downy Emerald on Wey/Arun Canal; spring Skippers.
Afternoon carshare to Oaken Wood for Wood White butterfly.
Aims: A survey of the grounds of this JLP country club on the banks of the Thames. We will look especially for emerging Common Clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus) and White-legged Damselfly.
Leaders: Alan Holmes & Brian Clews
Image copyright: Danny Chapman
Join us as part of the Northern Damselfly Project in Deeside to improve the habitat for these beautiful and rare damselflies. Meet at 10am at the Muir of Dinnet/ Burn o’ Vat NNR visitor centre at What3Words ref https://map.what3words.com/frightens.land.stretcher
Wear wellies (or waders if you have them), as well as waterproofs and warm clothes, including gloves. We’ll be putting in dams and removing pine regen and it will be a wet and muddy job (though great fun)! Bring your lunch and a drink though biscuits will be provided.
Please book by emailing Project Officer Mark Tasker with your phone number so we know how many tools & biscuits to bring. Please note this task is subject to receiving landowner approval and the weather not being too icy or snowy.
We look forward to seeing you there!
During 2023-2025, the BDS trained a group of young people to identify and survey dragonflies at
Stover. The results will be presented, and the opportunity will be taken to provide updates on dragonflies
in South-west England to a BDS and wider audience.
Book tickets here
09:30 Arrival, refreshments
10:00 Welcome and introduction (Dave Smallshire, BDS County Dragonfly Recorder for Devon)
10:05 Stover Country Park and its Dragonflies (Dave Smallshire)
10:30 Restoring Stover Park: Desilting the Lake (speaker tbc)
10:50 Monitoring the Dragonflies of Stover Lake (Dave Smallshire)
11:30 Break – refreshments
11:50 Dragonfly larvae (Jon Van Gowler, Joint Somerset CDR)
12:30 Lunch (please bring your own)
13:30 Cornwall update (Steve Jones)
13:50 South Devon update (Dave Smallshire)
14:10 North Devon (update – Andy McGeeney; South West Water and new discoveries – Liz Crow;
Lundy vs the mainland – Mandy Yates)
14:55 Break – refreshments
15:15 Somerset update (Chris Cardno/Mark Webb?)
15:35 South Peatland Restoration (Steve Edmonds)
15:55 Priority Sites in Devon: targets for 2026 (Dave Smallshire)
16:15 Final words and depart
There are two walks on this day:
Morning: 10:30-13:00
Afternoon: 14:00-16:30
Book your tickets here – limited spaces available
£5 per person (kids go free); please bring it on the day.
These are joint walks between Natural England and the British Dragonfly Society.
This guided walk will introduce you to the rare quaking bog habitat and the endangered White-faced Darters that live there.
Meeting/ parking place: Grid reference: SK 02219 28970. Meeting point is on A518 Stafford to Uttoxeter road, 4 miles west of Uttoxeter and 7 miles east of Stafford. Approaching from the Stafford direction, please park on the wide grassy road verge 1 mile beyond Chartley castle. Approaching from Uttoxeter the meeting point is 0.3 miles past the timber yard/ former filling station. A useful landmark at the meeting point is a tarmac farm drive with green iron gateposts and a number of copper beech trees. Please be extremely careful when parking, this is a very fast and dangerous stretch of road.
Image by L.B. Tettenborn
Register here
This will be an online event held over Zoom open to members and non-members. It will be free but donations are welcome.
Talks
Dragonflies of Poland, and the European Congress of Odonatology 2026 ~ Agnieszka Tańczuk, PhD, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
In 2026, European Congress of Odonatology will take place in the heart of Europe – Poland. The main event will be held near the capital city – in Niepokalanów monastery, in Teresin, from the 23rd until the 26th of June. The mid-congress trip is going to be organized in Kampinoski National Park, known as “the green lungs of Warsaw and Mazovia region”. Post congress trips, from 27 th of June until 2 nd of July, will be located in Kashubia ethnocultural region in the northern Poland. There will be the possibility to see such precious Odonata species as: Sympecma paedisca, Ischnura pumilio, Coenagrion hastulatum, Nehalennia speciosa, Aeshna juncea, A. subarctica, A. viridis, Ophiogomphus cecilia, Cordulegaster boltonii, Somatochlora arctica, Leucorrhinia dubia, L. rubicunda, L. pectoralis, L. albifrons, L. caudalis and Sympetrum danae.
Organizing Committee: Adam Tarkowski, Paweł Buczyński, Edyta Buczyńska, Maria Gołąb, Krystian Ołdak, Szymon Śniegula.
See you in Poland!
Quarries and Nature ~ David Payne, Senior Planning Advisor, Mineral Products Association
Quarry restoration projects that are supporting Odonata and nature conservation in Britain.
Going Peat-free ~ Sally Nex, Peat-free Partnership
Peatlands are among our most precious natural resources – yet they’re still being dug up to grow petunias, despite the government promises to bring in a ban. Sally Nex talks about her work as advocate for the Peat-free Partnership and why we must get the peat out of our gardens, once and for all.
Marsh Wood Pond, a case study of Odonata population changes in Oxfordshire ~ Stephen Burch, County Dragonfly Recorder for Oxfordshire.
With seemingly ideal conditions for dragonflies in 2025, it was surprising that casual observers reported a general lack of activity at multiple sites in Oxfordshire during the height of the season. Systematic recording data from four sites were therefore analysed and found to be consistent with this trend in most cases. Possible reasons for this decrease are outlined.
The Weird World of Dragonfly Larvae ~ Jon Van Gowler, a County Dragonfly Recorder for Somerset, and wildlife photographer Mark Webb
Did you see the emerging Emperor on Attenborough’s Will London? Hear from the man who raised them. Dive into the mysterious underwater world of Dragonfly larvae.
Over 200 New Ponds and Counting: How the National Education Nature Park Is Supporting Biodiversity in Schools ~ Victoria Burton and Tom Lawrence, Natural History Museum, London
The National Education Nature Park is a free, Department for Education–commissioned programme supporting schools, colleges and nurseries across England to create and enhance habitats on their grounds. Since 2023, over 8,000 settings have joined, backed by more than £12 million in grants. This has already resulted in over 200 new ponds and many other wildlife improvements. Alongside habitat creation, young people and educators are mapping their sites and recording species, contributing data that helps reveal biodiversity on educational land – one of the most under‑recorded types in England. This talk will highlight what the programme is achieving and how you can get involved or offer support.
Nature over Natter x BDS Colab ~ Tammie Esslemont Co-founder of Nature Over Natter
This is a community-based social media campaign that aims to prove that there’s a way everyone – including you – can get involved and make a difference.
Programme
| 09:30 | Welcome |
| 09:45 | Agnieszka Tańczuk |
| 10:15 | David Payne |
| 10:45 | Break |
| 11:00 | Victoria Burton and Tom Lawrence |
| 11:30 | Stephen Burch |
| 12:00 | Break |
| 12:15 | Q&A morning speakers |
| 12:45 | Lunch |
| 13:45 | Jon Van Gowler and Mark Webb |
| 14:45 | Break |
| 15:00 | Sally Nex |
| 15:40 | Q&A afternoon speakers |
| 16:10 | Tammie Esslemont |
| 16:20 | End |
Joint meeting with Cleveland Field Naturalists. A series of three ponds on a private farm within the Howardian Hills Natural Landscapes. The farm is managed in an environmentally sensitive way. To date 18 species have been recorded.
Leader – Keith Gittens
Meet 10.30 am at the farm on Mowthorpe Lane in Terrington.Birkdale Farm, Mowthorpe Lane, Terrington What3Words – blotting.firms.turkeys
Image: Blue-tailed Damselfly by Dave Smallshire
A chance for members of the BDS Youth Panel to meet up, catch up and develop their skills in dragonfly identification and recording.
Image by Adrian Snood.
All our members are invited to participate in our AGM to hear the Trustees’ annual report of the charity’s performance, finances, and activities, and to elect new Trustees.
The AGM will be followed by a talk on the Dragonflies on the Bog BDS project by Emma Stevens-Veitch (Project Officer).
Register here.
New Trustee for Appointment
Maria Giulia Checchi as Secretary
Maria Giulia is an active member of the BDS Youth Panel. She has been fascinated by wildlife ever since she can remember and came to the UK to study for a degree in Animal Behaviour. During her time in Cornwall and Scotland, she focused on improving her ID skills and understanding of UK species, which was how she first became interested in the world of dragonflies. She is now taking steps to pursue a career in conservation, with a main focus on species restoration. She looks forward to contributing to the Society through the role of Secretary and as a continuing Youth Panel member. Her favourite Odonata is the Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
Minutes for Approval
Financial Statement for Approval
Join us online for a day of talks and discussion on Dragonflies in Britain.
This year’s Annual Meeting will be taking place online to increase access and minimise cost.
This event is free, but donations are welcome to help cover running costs.
Register here today
Please revisit this page for updates.
Programme
10:30 Introduction and announcements
10:45 Edwin Peeters, PhD (Associate Professor, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University) ~ The relationship of dragonflies and damselflies with the aquatic environment is different for adult and larval stages.
11:15 Laura Weldon, PhD (Founder, The eDNA Consultancy) ~ Applications of eDNA as a wildlife monitoring tool.
11:45 Break
12:00 Eleanor Baker (Monitoring Officer, South West Peatland Partnership (South West Water)) ~ Restoring peatlands across Cornwall, Dartmoor and Exmoor.
12:30 Q&A with morning speakers
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Hannah Boyes (WWT Senior Visitor Marketing Manager) and Lukus Robbins (WWT Creative Content Producer) ~ The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s Dragonfly Festival, a summer celebration of dragonflies.
14:30 Kerry Dodd (Conservation Officer, Buglife) ~ Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps. Connecting communities across Scotland with their local rivers and the invertebrates that call these places home.
15:00 Break
15:15 Kat Mayer (Education and Engagement Officer) ~ Tarras Valley Nature Reserve; a community-led rewilding project.
15:45 Q&A with afternoon speaker
16:15 Close
Promotional materials
Join Dave Smallshire (British Dragonfly Society – Devon Group) to learn about peatland restoration work and to help with monitoring of upland species such as Black Darter and Common Hawker (looking for exuviae etc.) in a remote area of blanket bog.
Image: Black Darter by Richard M. Clarke.
Focus species – Azure Hawker, White-faced Darter and Northern Emerald
Who is it for?
This training is for people that are able to make a small commitment to supporting long term volunteer monitoring of the Dragonflies on the Bog project restoration sites across the north-west Highlands. The commitment will involve surveying 1 or more sites, 3-4 times over a 10 year period which will involve 1-2 days of surveying time – so likely around 3-8 days over 10 years. This is probably best suited to people that either live in the area and also those who travel there on holidays/for work and are prepared to incorporate some surveying on their adventures. Please only sign up if you are prepared to commit to this longer term volunteering.
The training will be run by Jen Davidson our Scotland Conservation Officer and Emma Stevens-Veitch our Dragonflies on the Bog Project Officer.
What will it involve?
A brief training presentation and background information will be delivered but this training will be mainly practical and will run in all weathers so be prepared for the best and the worst! We will be visiting a mix of pools across Glen Coe and Glen Etive. We will be surveying for larvae and looking in particular for the rare species but learning about all the species we find. We will familiarise you with the habitats and help you evaluate how the pools are holding up to climate conditions. We will support people to use ID guides, look for key features as well as uploading survey results to iRecord. All equipment will be provided and takeaway ID guides will be supplied. There will be around 4-5 miles of walking across the sites over the few days but it won’t be fast paced and there is a chance to enjoy the stunning landscapes as we move between pools. But please note this training takes place on boggy unstable ground.
When?
15th to 17th August. We ask for people to arrive for the evening of the 15th as the training will start early in the morning of the 16th at 9am with a presentation at the Visitor Centre and finishing up on the 17th at 4pm (or earlier if people need to depart for transport reasons).
Costs and cancellations:
Please note the course and accommodation costs have been fully funded by the Nature Restoration Fund (NatureScot). If for any reasons you have to cancel we ask that you give as much notice as possible. We will hold a waiting list for the course and it will be good to offer this valuable opportunity to others. Our last course had a few no shows and it was really unfortunate that this funding is lost and that those on our waiting list could not be offered the opportunity. We know that life happens and ask that you please communicate as early as possible if you cannot come so spaces can be passed to others.
Your self-funded costs will be travel and food.
Accommodation:
We have booked a selection of bed spaces at Glencoe Youth Hostel in female and male dorm rooms and at the Red Squirrel Campsite we have a number of tent pitches. Please choose in the booking ticket option for the appropriate space you need. You may also arrange your own accommodation if you prefer.
Getting to the training:
We recommend car sharing if possible and if you are open to this please let Emma know (details below) and we will connect you with others. We may be able to pick people up from Glen Orchy train station or connect with others so please tell us if you are travelling by train. There are buses from Glasgow, Fort William and Inverness with stops at the Glencoe Visitor Centre and again let us know if you need a pick up there.
Food:
A packed sandwich lunch will be provided by Glencoe Visitor Centre on the 16th July. You will need to provide all your other meals and snacks so please come prepared.
There are various eating out options in Glencoe in the evening depending on your access to transport otherwise there are self-catering facilities or some other options at the youth hostel.
Weather, midges and terrain:
As you will all know the Scottish Highlands can be hugely unpredictable and you need to be prepared for anything as we will potentially be a long way from shelter and we will go out in all weathers. Plenty of layers, waterproofs, sun screen, hats and midge nets/repellents are a must. Good wellies for the bog are probably preferable as we will be on very boggy terrain but if you need extra support then hiking boots may be better – choose to suit your own needs. Long sleeves/trousers are also recommended as we are in tick territory.
Booking:
Please book here.
If the event is fully booked and you want to be added to the waiting list or if you have any questions please contact Emma Stevens-Veitch at
Dragonflies on the Bog Volunteer Rare Species Survey and ID Skills
4th to 6th July – Corrour Estate and Roy Bridge
Focus species – Azure Hawker, White-faced Darter and Northern Emerald
Join the BDS for a guided walk around this Dragonfly Hotspot, where at least 22 dragonfly species have been recorded.
Walks will be held at 11:30 and 14:00.
Walks are free but there is an admission cost.
Registration is not required.
Image: Wicken Fen by Hugh Venables.
Join the BDS for a guided walk around this Dragonfly Hotspot, where at least 22 dragonfly species have been recorded.
Walks will be held at 11:30 and 14:00.
Walks are free but there is an admission cost.
Registration is not required.
Image: Wicken Fen by Hugh Venables.
Join the BDS for a guided walk around this Dragonfly Hotspot, where at least 22 dragonfly species have been recorded.
Walks will be held at 11:30 and 14:00.
Walks are free but there is an admission cost.
Registration is not required.
Image: Wicken Fen by Hugh Venables.
Hotspot Project
Dragonfly Hotspots are special places, carefully chosen because they support a good variety of dragonfly and damselfly species, are easy to access, and can provide opportunities for local communities to learn about dragonflies and get involved with dragonfly conservation and events.
Campfield Marsh is an excellent regional site for Odonata and has good numbers of nationally declining species. The large pond and avenue near the visitor centre have proved to be good for Emperor Dragonfly and Migrant Hawkers, recent arrivals in North Cumbria. The peatbog habitat is naturally the place to encounter the Common Hawker, Black Darter and Emerald Damselfly. Earlier this year, the site began the reintroduction of the White-faced Darter – find out more about this exciting conservation project here.
What’s On
Explore the reserve with experts to learn about dragonfly identification, their fascinating life cycle and where to find them. The day will be jam-packed with exciting activities.
11:00-12:30/13:00
Guided dragonfly walk (2.5 miles). Booking required (email: )
All day
- Pond dipping (drop-in)
- Dragonfly craft activities for families
- Spotter sheets of the species to see on site
- Knowledgeable guides on hand for any questions
The Hotspot launch coincides with a reserve open day, with refreshments available and the opportunity to learn more about the other wildlife and conservation activities at Campfield Marsh.
A new interpretation board will be installed on site providing an insight into the dragonflies and damselflies that call Campfield Marsh their home.
Site Information
Please see the RSPB Campfield Marsh page for information on site accessibility, facilities, and other wildlife you can see on site.
Image by Rosser
The dragonfly walk listed in Dragonfly News has been cancelled due to the site’s health and safety policy changes. We apologise for this change to our events programme.
Image by Paul Ritchie.
Morning walk (approx. 3 hours) to look for a broad range of dragonfly species, including Norfolk Hawker and Variable Damselfly.
Leader / contact: Dr Pam Taylor – Norfolk Dragonfly Recorder
Email: to book or phone 01493 509596
Meet: 10.00am at Upton Fen car park, TG379136. Postcode NR13 6EQ (Low Road).
From Acle, Norwich or Wroxham head towards South Walsham, then follow signs for Pilson Green. Local public transport services are limited. The nearest train station is Acle (3.5 miles).
Image: Norfolk Hawker by Pam Taylor
Guided Dragonfly walk at Emberton Country Park, Bucks.
Meet at 10.30am for an 11am start, for a dragonfly walk that will run until 1-2pm.