This PondWatch, we’re inviting you to spend 30 mindful minutes by a pond anytime between 1st – 31st July – watching, listening, smelling, feeling, and of course, looking out for dragonflies!
You can choose any pond to take part in PondWatch, whether it’s in your garden, the local park, a nature reserve, or another public space. Ponds can act as an oasis for wildlife, and your observations can help us understand how they support dragonflies. For the best chance of spotting a dragonfly or damselfly, try to visit a pond on a warm, sunny day – they are most active when the sun is shining and temperatures are higher.
Simply record your experience using the easy PondWatch form below, launching 1st July. Alongside spotting dragonflies and damselflies, we’d love to hear how being in nature, Pond Watching, makes you feel.
Whether you’re a seasoned dragonfly enthusiast or just enjoy a quiet moment outdoors, this is a chance to connect with nature and give PondWatching a go.
PondWatch 2025 Recording Form
Get Involved
Looking for a PondWatch adventure?
Get exploring this PondWatch and visit a local wetland site!
Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our interactive map for excellent wetland sites, including Dragonfly Hotspots.
Learn along the way
Freshwater wetlands are some of the most diverse place in Britain!
Take a closer look and you’ll be surprised by what you find; for example, did you know that the largest British Dragonfly, the Emperor, lays its eggs in garden ponds, or that there is such a thing as a Water Stick Insect?!
Please share your stories and photos with the British Dragonfly Society and our fellow freshwater charities.
Want to know more about a species? Let us know and we’ll do our best to help!
You can find us on:
Some of our wildlife friends who can give you information on . . .
Invertebrates: Buglife
Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies: Riverflies
Butterflies and Moths: Butterfly Conservation
Amphibians and Reptiles: ARC
Birds: RSPB and WWT
General wildlife: Wildlife Trust
Dragon Spotting
Want to identify the dragonflies visiting your pond? Our website has lots of great resources to help you on your identification journey.
Take a look at the great video by Wildlife Garden Project, which is a great way to get started with some of the most common pond visitors.
We want to hear from you!
For #PondWatch you and your ponds are always the star of the show!
For PondWatch weekend we want to showcase your ponds over our social media channels, providing excellent pond-spiration! So get in touch via one of our social media channels and use #PondWatch in your pond and dragonfly pictures if you want to be featured for 2025.
Take a look at the latest pond stories on our Pond Ponderings blog
Meet our #PondWatch Partners
Our partners will be sharing their pond insights and stories over the weekend so make sure to follow them.
Green Fingered George
Our Youth Ambassador George has a passionate for wildlife garden- check out mega pond and you’ll see what we mean!
Joel Ashton
Joel is an expert pond creator and has been featured on BBC Springwatch and BBC Gardeners’ World.
Neil Philips – aka Pondman
Neil is the Country Dragonfly Recorder for Essex, co-host of UK Wildlife Podcast and an excellent photographer
David aka Urbanponds101
Showcasing the power of urban ponds and documenting his garden wildlife in South East London.
Steve White
A wildlife film maker and dragonfly enthusiast, Steve has been supporting #PondWatch since it began, sharing underwater footage from his garden pond.
Previously on #PondWatch . . .
Pond Doctor
Watch our Pond Doctor Daniele Muir tackle pond conundrums and questions in this online surgery from 2020-2021.
Watch the whole series on our YouTube Channel
Garden and Pond Guidance
We have a range of advice and leaflets on managing your garden for Dragonflies, including digging a pond: See here
Childrens' activities
We have a range of learning and craft activities to keep you entertained over #PondWatch.
Image credits:
Water-lily by Suzy Hazelwood