As well as dragonfly walks and talks there are a number of Shropshire based courses that focus on adults, larvae and exuviae and the fascinating life cycle of these insects. If you know of any up and coming Shropshire dragonfly events that you would like me to list here then please do get in touch.
STOP PRESS: Dates for 2020 events below.
Biolinks Learn to Love Dragonfly Talk (EVENING EVENT)
EVENT POSTPONED- WILL UPDATE IN DUE COURSE
Wednesday 18th March, 2020 7.00-9.30pm
Preston Montford Field Centre, Shropshire
Aim: With many other Biolinks courses focusing on identification and recording this evening talk is an opportunity to delve in to the dragonfly lifecycle in more depth. Sue Rees Evans will take us on the journey from egg to adult using an array of Shropshire species to illustrate the fascinating lives of these insects. An enjoyable interesting talk open to all levels.
Meet: Preston Montford Field Centre. The talk will start promptly at 7pm and finish at 9.30pm. For further directions see
http://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/prestonmontford/
Requirements: None
Contact: For further details and booking please contact Preston Montford Field Centre -telephone 01743852100 or book online via www.fscbiodiversity.uk/courses
Cost: £5
NB: For those who wish, the latest ‘Field Guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland’ by D. Smallshire & A. Swash will be available for purchase at £17.95 (NB. correct cash/cheque only).
Biolinks Dragonfly Larvae & Exuviae Workshop
EVENT POSTPONED- WILL UPDATE IN DUE COURSE
Wednesday 15th April, 2020
Preston Montford Field Centre, Shropshire
Aim: Taught by Sue Rees Evans this course is aimed at beginners. It will commence with an introduction to dragonfly larvae and the part they play in the dragonfly lifecycle. Indoor practical sessions will then focus on the identification of exuviae. After lunch the afternoon will be spent out and about at the field centre dipping in ponds and practising some hands on identification.
Meet: Preston Montford Field Centre. The workshop will start at 10am and finish at 4pm. For further directions see
http://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/prestonmontford/
Requirements: Packed lunch. Wellies/walking boots and waterproofs as we will be venturing out! Total walking will be no more than 1km. Larval identification guides and hand lens if owned.
Contact: For further details and booking please contact Preston Montford Field Centre -telephone 01743852100 or book online via www.fscbiodiversity.uk/courses
Cost: £5
NB: For those who wish, the ‘Field Guide to the larvae and exuviae of British Dragonflies’ by Steve Cham will be available for purchase at £7.50
(NB. correct cash/cheque only).
Biolinks Dragonfly Recording Days
These are not formally taught courses, rather an opportunity to record dragons and damsels at different sites with expert advice and support on hand. A useful follow up activity having attended an identification course. Full details and booking are not yet available but dates and locations are listed below. Full details will soon be available via www.fscbiodiversity.uk/courses
Dragonfly Recording Day, Berrington Pool and Attingham Park
Wednesday 10th June, 2020
Dragonfly Recording Day, Whixall Moss and Alderford Lakes
Wednesday 29th July, 2020
Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies
10th– 12th July, 2020
Preston Montford Field Centre, Shropshire
Aim: This course is aimed at all those with a desire to learn more about these stunning insects. Open to all levels of ability we aim to introduce you close up to a good number of our Shropshire species of dragonfly and damselfly so that you will leave confident in your own abilities to identify them and make species records. Classroom sessions on identification, life history, larvae and exuviae will be combined with a number of field visits to a range of aquatic habitats. This will allow you to put your skills into practice and to observe and understand the visual spectacle of these fascinating insects on the wing.
Tutor: Sue Rees Evans – previously the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire for 8 years and Odonata Tsar for the Shropshire Ecological Data Network.
Location: Preston Montford Field Centre (SJ433143). For further directions see
http://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/prestonmontford/
The course will start on Friday evening and finish on Sunday late afternoon.
Contact: For futher details and booking please contact Preston Montford Field Centre Tel: 01743 852100 or visit: Field Studies Council website
Cost: £220-£300
NB: For those who wish, the latest ‘Field Guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland’ by D. Smallshire & A. Swash will be available for purchase at £17.95 and the ‘Field Guide to the larvae and exuviae of British Dragonflies’ by S. Cham will be available for purchase at £7.50 (correct cash/cheque only).
Identifying Dragonflies
10am-4pm Saturday 25th July, 2020
Bishops Wood FSC Field Centre, Worcestershire
Aim: Dragonfly enthusiasts of all levels of ability are welcome to come along and learn more about these stunning insects. The day will start with a classroom session introducing this group of insects and focusing on their identification. We then head outside to the pools at the centre and hopefully introduce you close up to a good number of local species.
Tutor: Sue Rees Evans – previously the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire for 8 years and Odonata Tsar for the Shropshire Ecological Data Network.
Location: Bishops Wood Field Centre. For further directions see http://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/bishopswood/
Contact: For futher details and booking please contact Preston Montford Field Centre Tel: 01743 852100 or visit: Field Studies Council website
Cost: £50
Requirements: Packed lunch. Wellies/walking boots and waterproofs as we will be venturing out! Total walking will be no more than 1km. Identification guides and hand lens if owned.
NB. For those who wish, the latest ‘Field Guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland’ by D. Smallshire & A. Swash will be available for purchase at £17.95 (correct cash/cheque only).
British Dragonfly Society Identification Courses
10am-4pm Wednesday 1st July, 2020
10am-4pm Wednesday 22nd July, 2020
BDS DRAGONFLY HOT SPOT at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, Shropshire
Aim: This year Sue Rees Evans is running 2 dragonfly ID workshops at this location aimed at beginners.Participants will learn to identify a range of species throughout both sessions. Classroom inputs during the morning will focus on damselfly ID (session 1) and dragonfly ID (session 2). Following a brief lunch the afternoons will be spent outside around the centre ponds and the River Onny putting our new identification skills to the test. Participants are welcome to attend both days as a series though attendance on just 1 day is also possible.
Tutor: Sue Rees Evans – previously the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire for 8 years and Odonata Tsar for the Shropshire Ecological Data Network.
Location: Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY79RS.
Contact: Booking essential via Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Tel: 01588 676060 or email: info@shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk
Cost: £10 per session
Requirements: Packed lunch or cafe available. Wellies/walking boots and waterproofs as we will be venturing out! Total walking will be no more than 2km. Identification guides and hand lens if owned.
NB. For those who wish, the latest ‘Field Guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland’ by D. Smallshire & A. Swash will be available for purchase at £17.95 (correct cash/cheque only).