Events

Explore our schedule of upcoming dragonfly-related events, courses, and field trips.

 

Key

Green: BDS and BDS Local Group field meetings and events.
Blue : Events where the BDS has a presence but is not organising.
Brown: Dragonfly-related events where the BDS is not present.

Information for Event Leaders

Events

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Today

  • Bugs Matter 2026

    UK wide , United Kingdom
    Meeting Other

    Open to citizen scientists across the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and – new for 2026 – France.

    Free

  • Dragonfly Walk at Stover Country Park, Devon

    Stover Country Park Newton Abbot, Devon, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    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…

  • Newdigate Brickworks, Surrey

    Newdigate Brickworks 20 Mulberry Place, Dorking, Surrey, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    Former clay pits associated with an abandoned brickworks, now managed for wildlife by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. Join the wardens to explore a mosaic of habitats including woodland, grassland, lakes,…

  • Cookham, Berks for Clubtail

    Odney Club, Cookham Odney Club, Odney Lane, Cookham, Berkshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    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.…

  • Cothill & Dry Sandford – *CANCELLED*

    Dry Sandford Pit 2.5 miles north-west of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting Other

    *** This event has been cancelled on advice from BBOWT that the site is fragile and could be damaged by trampling. If you wish to visit singly please contact BBOWT…

  • Peatlands Under Pressure

    Swansea University’s Bay Campus Swansea University, Fabian Way, Swansea
    Meeting Other

    IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference 2026

  • Beddington Farmlands, Croydon

    Beddington Farmlands, Croydon Mile Road, Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    An opportunity to join the ranger and see beyond the permissive path at the edge of this extensive urban wildlife reserve. Still under development and restoration, the site supports a good…

  • New Earswick Nature Reserve Open Day

    New Earswick Nature Reserve Alder Way, New Earswick, York, United Kingdom
    Meeting BDS Present

    Private wetland open day.

    Free

  • Nutfield Marsh & Spynes Mere, E. Surrey

    Mercers Country Park, Nutfield Marsh Mercers Country Park, Redhill, Surrey, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    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,…

  • *FULLY BOOKED* NWT Upton Fen Field Meeting, Norfolk

    NWT Upton Fen Norfolk, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    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: …

  • Swanwick Lakes NR, Hampshire

    HSBG 2026
    Swanwick Lakes NR Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve, Swanwick, Hampshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    Join us for our first visit to Swanwick Lakes, between Southampton and Fareham, a site run by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, in the company of local…

    £5

  • BDS logo

    Dragonfly Week 2026

    Various , United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    National celebration of dragonflies!

    Free

  • Thursley NNR, Surrey

    Thursley Nature Reserve Moat Car Park, Elstead, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    Thursley is a BDS Hotspot for its variety & numbers of dragonflies and a set of habitats rare so close to London. On a similar day in 2021 the number…

  • Dragonfly Walk at Stover Country Park, Devon

    Stover Country Park Newton Abbot, Devon, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    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…

  • Swinley & Gormoor, nr Bracknell, Berks

    The Look Out, Bracknell Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    We will look especially for Brilliant Emerald at the Forest Pool and visiting some new ponds looking for heathland species. Other mid-season species should be in evidence across these under-recorded…

  • Marfield Wetlands NR

    Marfield Wetlands Masham, Ripon, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    On the lookout for Small Red-eyed Damselfly.

    Free

  • Dragonfly Walk at Emberton Country Park, Bucks

    Emberton Country Park Olney Road, Emberton, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting BDS Present

    Guided Dragonfly walk at Emberton Country Park, Bucks. Meet at 10.30am for an 11am start, for a dragonfly walk that will run until 2pm.  

  • Female Black Darter dragonfly

    Skipwith Common NNR Field Meeting

    Skipwith Common National Nature Reserve Selby, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    Searching for Common Hawker and Black Darter.

    Free

  • Warren Heath, N.Hampshire for Brilliant Emerald

    Hartley Wintney (Monachus La) Monachus Lane car park, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    Heathland species including Brilliant Emerald and Black Darter. Walk along forest tracks and some limited pushing through bracken (sorry). Please wear hiking boots and bring packed lunch. Leader: Alan Holmes

  • Sowing Seeds

    Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre
    Meeting BDS Present

    Engaging young people for a lifetime of engagement with nature.

    Free

  • Wildwood, Cranleigh, Surrey for Odonata and Hairstreak Butterflies

    Wildwood Golf Course Wildwood Lane (near Pound Lea Farm), Alfold, Nr Cranleigh, Surrey, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    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…

  • Strensall Common MTA

    Strensall Common Nature Reserve Common Road, Strensall, York, North Yorkshire
    Meeting run by BDS

    Looking for Common Hawker and Black Darter.

    Free

  • Foley Manor, nr Liphook, Hants

    Foley Manor, Hants Foley Farm, Foley Estate, Liphook, Hampshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    This country estate within the South Downs National Park, close to the Longmoor army ranges, plans to rewild. We will be doing an initial dragonfly survey, complementing the flora survey…

  • BDS Annual Meeting 2026

    Whaddonway Church Beaverbrook Court, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
    Meeting run by BDS

    In-person conference.

Advice to attendees
If you have a medical condition that might impact your participation in field meetings or other events, please contact the leader in advance to ask what will be involved on the day and then you can decide whether the event will be suitable for you.

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Leading an Event?
Information for Event Leaders is available via the link to the right. Please make sure you have the most up-to-date documents.

Title image: Migrant Hawker by Gareth William Tonks