BDS Photo Calendar 2024 – get yours now!
We asked you to help us celebrate our 40th birthday with a Dragonfly photo competition. Our winner is Steve Hewitt’s White-legged Damselfly as chosen by Mike Dilger, a further top 11 photos were chosen by the BDS team which accompany the winner in our 2024 calendar. This wall calendar is A4 (opens to A3). Each…
Collect our new pin badges
The BDS shop now offers four bright and beautiful pin badges for sale at £2.50 each: Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, and Banded Demoiselle. They’ll make a great Christmas stocking filler – take a look.
State of Nature 2023 Report – UK nature-depleted
The State of Nature 2023 report, the most comprehensive report on the UK’s current biodiversity, has been released and is available to read in full here. The report uses data collated over the past 50 years by thousands of volunteers taking part in recording schemes, such as the National Recording Scheme for Odonata. In summary,…
Dragonfly Conservation Group – Statisticians Needed
The BDS Dragonfly Conservation Group is looking for volunteers with experience in statistical ecology to assist them in exploring and analysing the BDS datasets; for example, identifying relationships between species occurrence and environmental/geographical variables. The DCG is a volunteer group of dragonfly experts that works to forward research into British Odonata, in particular species of…
RESTORE NATURE NOW – Rally 28/9/23
The peaceful Restore Nature Now demonstration will be taking place in London, Bristol, Newcastle, Reading and York on 28/9/23. Like many other conservation organisations, the BDS has become increasingly concerned about the dilution of environmental legislation in the UK and the slowdown of progress toward achieving Net Zero. The Restore Nature Now rallies provide an opportunity for…
Register as a volunteer
We are calling for all new and existing volunteers to register via this quick online form: click here. Registering as a volunteer will help us contact you regarding important updates and new opportunities. It will also allow the BDS to track your activities and celebrate your achievements. Image by Daniele Muir
What to look out for in Early August
Most of our damselfly species will be past their peak in terms of numbers, although the majority will still be found, albeit in smaller numbers. However, August is when two of our damselfly species will be reaching their peak. The first is Small Red-eyed Damselfly, which first occurred in Britain in 1999 and is now…
Introduction to the National Dragonfly Recording Scheme
New to dragonfly recording? The entoLIVE blog for the DragonflyWatch: The National Dragonfly Recording Scheme entoLIVE webinar is now live via the link below. The blog includes a recording of the presentation as well as a transcription of the Q&A with Ellie Colver, BDS Conservation Officer, a list of literature references and any relevant useful links.…
Photographing Dragonflies – top tips by a County Dragonfly Recorder
Written by Marc Heath (Kent County Dragonfly Recorder) For over ten years, I have been photographing the dragonflies and damselflies that live in the UK and have been proud to have had a number published in national magazines and identification guides. Whilst anyone can capture photos of these fascinating insects there are a number of…
Dragonfly Week started this weekend! How to take part. . .
#DragonflyWeek23 runs from Saturday 1 July to Sunday 9 July. Across the UK the BDS and volunteers will be hosting events to celebrate the wonders of dragonflies. We encorage our conservation partners to take part as the event is a great oppotunity to promote the value of wetlands, top dragonflies nature reserves and public involvement…