
Wicken Fen Dragonfly Walk
- Date:
- Saturday, 5 July 2025
- Cost:
- Free
- Event Category:
- Meeting run by BDS
- Location:
- Wicken Fen
Lode Ln
Wicken, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 5XP United Kingdom
Organiser:

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.
Other
- Meet
- Meet at the Visitor Centre.
- Contact
- 01353720274/ wickenfen@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Date:
- Sunday, 17 August 2025
- Cost:
- Free
- Event Category:
- Meeting run by BDS
- Location:
- Wicken Fen
Lode Ln
Wicken, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 5XP United Kingdom
Organiser:

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.
Other
- Meet
- Meet at the Visitor Centre.
- Contact
- 01353720274/ wickenfen@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Date:
- Wednesday, 25 June 2025
- Cost:
- Free
- Event Category:
- Meeting Other
- Location:
- WWT London Wetland Centre SW13 9WT United Kingdom
Organiser:
- Phone:
- 01387 770200
- Email:
- Email Organizer
- Website:
- View Organiser Website

At least 26 species of Dragonfly have been recorded at WWT London Wetland Centre and is a designated BDS Dragonfly Hotspot; join WWT staff as they guide you around this special site.
Please be aware that the walks are limited to 10 people; a sign-up sheet will be available on the day at admissions.
Walks will take place at:
- 10:30-11:30
- 12:00-13:00
The walks are free, but there is an admission cost.
Image by WWT
Other
- Requirements
- Sign up required. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing.
- Contact
- supporter@wwt.org.uk/ 01453 891198
- Date:
- Tuesday, 24 June 2025
- Cost:
- Free
- Event Category:
- Meeting Other
- Location:
- WWT London Wetland Centre SW13 9WT United Kingdom
Organiser:
- Phone:
- 01387 770200
- Email:
- Email Organizer
- Website:
- View Organiser Website

At least 26 species of Dragonfly have been recorded at WWT London Wetland Centre and is a designated BDS Dragonfly Hotspot; join WWT staff as they guide you around this special site.
Please be aware that the walks are limited to 10 people; a sign-up sheet will be available on the day at admissions.
Walks will take place at:
- 10:30-11:30
- 12:00-13:00
The walks are free, but there is an admission cost.
Image by WWT
Other
- Requirements
- Sign up required. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing.
- Contact
- supporter@wwt.org.uk/ 01453 891198
- Date:
- Sunday, 13 July 2025
- Time:
-
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Cost:
- £15
- Event Category:
- Meeting BDS Present
- Event Website:
- https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/119591
- Location:
- Newport Wetlands
W Nash Rd
Newport, NP18 2BZ United Kingdom
Organiser:
- Phone:
- 01954 233260
- Email:
- Email Organizer
- Website:
- View Organiser Website

A day of celebration and discovery will bring you close to dragonflies, as we celebrate 1 year since the launch of Newport Wetlands as a Dragonfly Hotspot. Designated by the British Dragonfly Society and working in collaboration with RSPB, Natural Resources Wales and Living Levels Partnership. 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.
Join us on Sunday 13 July to celebrate and learn more about these wonderful invertebrates. Watch damselflies dancing over ponds and dragonflies hunting along the water’s edge. Delve into the deep and learn about the larval stage of the dragonfly’s life cycle, living up to 5 years under the water!
The day will be jam packed with exciting activities:
- Guided dragonfly walks – ID course and guided walk with Steve Preddy, County Recorder. Please book a ticket to join his session. Start time 10am.
- Pond dipping – Open from 10:30am-2:30pm, Pay at the centre for your equipment, £4.50 each.
- Dragonfly crafting and spotting guides
- Knowledgeable guides on hand with any questions
Other
- Requirements
- Please bring either printed or electronic proof of your ticket. If you booked as an RSPB member, that member needs to bring their membership card with them. Dress appropriately for the weather and condition, including sturdy footwear. Please expect some standing about so dress in warm layers as it can be very cold out on the reserve. Wet weather gear should be brought just in case. Bring your binoculars, scope or camera if you have them to help you get a closer look at the wildlife we might see. You may wish to bring a drink and/or snack. No dogs, except assistance dogs please.
- Additional Info
- The café is open 10am-4pm and serves hot drinks, sandwiches, cake and ice cream. You can hire binoculars from the Visitor Centre. We have a car park that is free for RSPB members and £5 per car for non-members for the day.
- Meet
- Contact
- Newport-Wetlands@rspb.org.uk
- Date:
- Saturday, 26 July 2025
- Cost:
- Free
- Event Category:
- Meeting Other
- Event Website:
- https://arocha.org.uk/event/dragonfly-damselfly-identification-walks-at-foxearth-meadows/
- Location:
- Foxearth Meadows
Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve
Foxearth, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 7GA United Kingdom - Venue Phone:
- 07548 209652
- Venue Website:
- View Venue Website
Organiser:
- Phone:
- 020 8574 5935
- Email:
- Email Organizer
- Website:
- View Organiser Website

If you want to see dragonflies up close, or don’t know your Large Red Damselflies from your Ruddy Darters, then this event is for you.
This is a popular event where you can learn from the experts David Chandler (author of ‘Dragonfly’ and ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of Britain and Ireland’) and Andrea Harrison.
We’ve been really excited to see that Norfolk Hawker dragonflies have been seen several times as they expand their range. What will you see?
Morning session 10.30am – 12.15pm booking link via eventbrite.
Afternoon session 1.15pm-3pm booking link via eventbrite.
Other
- Requirements
- Bring a sun hat, sun cream and insect repellent, and close-focussing binoculars if you have them. Be prepared for a bit of uneven ground, and depending on the weather, maybe a bit of mud! Spaces are limited, so please book early. Please also cancel your ticket if you can no longer make it so that we can release spaces to others.
- Meet
- Meet in the car park.
- Contact
- Sarah Leedham: sarah.leedham@arocha.org or 07810 141234
- Date:
- Saturday, 28 June 2025
- Time:
-
10:30 am - 3:00 pm
- Cost:
- Free
- Event Category:
- Meeting Other
- Event Website:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-bug-day-at-foxearth-meadows-tickets-1234879310259?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Location:
- Foxearth Meadows
Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve
Foxearth, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 7GA United Kingdom - Venue Phone:
- 07548 209652
- Venue Website:
- View Venue Website
Organiser:
- Phone:
- 020 8574 5935
- Email:
- Email Organizer
- Website:
- View Organiser Website

This free family event celebrates National Insect Week, with activities for all ages. Come along and join us, searching for beetles, doing a bug hunt, shaking a bush and maybe even seeing moths up close. You may be surprised at the beauty of these ‘creepy crawlies!
Foxearth Meadows sits on the River Stour floodplain in a quiet corner of Essex on the border with Suffolk. The eleven acre reserve has a variety of habitats including the river and riverbank, wetlands and woodland, an ancient field boundary, a series of ponds and marshy flower-rich grassland. Managed especially for dragonflies and damselflies, it is also home to a wealth of wildlife including Otter, Kingfisher, Harvest mouse, Common lizard, Grass snake and Common toad. It has been owned and managed by A Rocha UK since 2015.
Other
- Requirements
- Bring a picnic. UNDER 16 WITH PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN
- Meet
- The reserve is about a mile north of Foxearth village, between the River Stour and the lane north-west of Constable’s Farm and Constables Barn (private dwellings with postcode CO10 7HZ). From Long Melford travelling west towards Clare (A1092), turn first left after GCB Cocoa (formerly Philips Avent), signposted ‘Pentlow Road’. Then take the next left (signposted ‘Liston’) and the reserve is about 200 metres on the left. Follow ‘what3words’ charm.dragonfly.townhouse Grid Ref. TL 8331 4598
- Contact
- Sarah Leedham: sarah.leedham@arocha.org or 07810 141234
- Date:
- Sunday, 1 June 2025
- Time:
-
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
- Event Category:
- Meeting BDS Present
Organiser:
- Email:
- Email Organizer
- Website:
- View Organiser Website

Join us at the Ryedale Aquarist Society Open Event, where the Yorkshire Dragonfly Group will be in attendance! Come along to learn about the fascinating world of dragonflies and damselflies, chat with local experts, and discover how you can get involved.
Other
- Contact
- brilliantemerald@btinternet.com
- Date:
- Saturday, 5 July 2025
- Time:
-
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Event Category:
- Meeting run by BDS
- Location:
- RSPB Campfield Marsh
Campfield Marsh
Wigton, Cumbria CA7 5AG United Kingdom - Venue Phone:
- 01697 351330
- Venue Website:
- View Venue Website
Organiser:

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: events@british-dragonlies.org.uk)
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
Other
- Requirements
- Dress appropriately for the weather and condition, including sturdy footwear. Please remember to wear sun cream, a hat and bring plenty of water. Bring your binoculars, scope or camera if you have them to help you get a closer look at the wildlife we might see. Entrance to the reserve is free.
- Contact
- events@british-dragfonflies.org.uk
- Date:
- Saturday, 14 June 2025
- Event Category:
- Meeting run by BDS

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.