The Big River Watch
Twice a year we run a Big River Watch, and the next one takes place from 25th April to 1st May. These are week-long citizen science surveys in which everyone can take part in a simple activity that helps build a picture of river health across the UK and Ireland.
New for this year, if you’d like to collect even more information about your river, you can also sign up to the Great UK WaterBlitz, and test the water for phosphates and nitrates after you’ve completed a Big River Watch survey.
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 issues. With the Big River Watch app, you can help us identify the issues, and will contribute to a national data set that will help us build a picture of river health.
Find out more and how to take part here
Wales Nature Week is a celebration of our magical nature from common everyday species like dandelions and buff tailed bumblebees, to fascinating fungi, soaring red kites and acrobatic red squirrels. It celebrates the gardens, fields and meadows, woods and Celtic rainforest, water and reens, seashore and dune, and all the magical places nature finds a home.
And importantly, it celebrates the people, nature organisations, communities, schools and faith groups who carry out incredible work for nature in their area.
More information
Join the Scotland team on Saturday 5th April 2025 for our 2025 Scotland Conference in the Soutar Theatre at the AK Bell Library, Perth. There will be talks, workshops and a chance to connect with like-minded dragonfly enthusiasts.
Refreshments will be provided but not lunch. Please book your place using the form below.
| Name | Talk |
| Lorna Slater MSP | Nature Champion for the Northern Damselfly: ‘On holiday with the Damselflies’. |
| Stephen Corcoran | Corrour peatland restoration and Northern Damselfly project |
| Pat Batty | Corrour survey results |
| Scott Shanks | Dragonflies on the Bog |
| Jen Davidson | Conservation work |
| Genevieve Tomkins | Cairngorms to Coast: the hunt for a rare dragon and damsel |
| Emma Stevens-Veitch | Playing hide & seek with Northern Emerald larvae |
| David Penman | Carse of Stirling Dragonflies |
| Workshops | Exuvia & larva ID |
Book your place using the form below:
Aims: to see a range of summer dragonflies and damselflies with the possibility of Brilliant Emerald, and Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly which was recorded on the site last summer.
A whole day exploring Dragonflies at the Avalon Marshes Centre.
Orchestrated by Odonata oracle Jon Van Gowler, the day will explore the science and the place we hold dragonflies in our society through photography and art.
The event will be opened by Chris Sperring M.B.E. and will contain talks, photographic presentation and chances to see live larvae in pond-dipping sessions.
For more information and for booking talks click here.
Image: Four-spotted Chaser by Iain Leach
We are determined to see more dragonflies this year and will especially be looking for Black Darter, after our visit in disappointing weather in 2024.
The site is managed for local nature and worldwide conservation by Marwell Wildlife.
We will be guided by Tony Mundell, formerly of RAE and the original proposer of Site of Special Scientific Interest status for Eelmoor Marsh.
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 SSSI site managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust with many species including White-legged Damselfly.
This is an extensive site with heather, pine woodland and a lake within Ashdown Forest.
We hope to see Brilliant Emerald at this woodland glade site. We walk on well made but muddy paths to Warren Heath – 4 miles there and back. Hiking boots recommended (and possibly gaiters against ticks.) 100m over rough heath to one pond. Bring a packed lunch to eat by ponds to see what flies past. No facilities on site.
Possible coffee & cake afterwards at ‘Cuppies and Cream’ in Hartley Witney.