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 would like me to lead a walk or talk or know of any up and coming Shropshire dragonfly events that you would like me to list here then please do get in touch. In addition if you are a teacher you may like to know the BDS have just developed some great educational resources to help inspire the next generation – click here for details.
STOP PRESS: Details for a host of Shropshire Dragonfly events in 2017 can be found below including a great chance to get involved in the Clubtail Count 2017!
Paddle2Nature Group: Butterfly and Dragonfly Event
5th August 2017
Venue: Shropshire Paddlesports, Queens Head, West Felton, nr Oswestry. Meet in the club house – on the opposite side of the canal to the Queens Head Pub.
Time: About 9am to 12am
Fee: £1 per person
Join the Paddle2Nature Group for a paddle in canoes and kayaks along the Montgomery Canal looking for and hopefully identifying Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies. The club coaches will be available to help anyone new to paddling. Boats, Paddles and Buoyancy aids will be provided. (Wear sensible clothes and shoes, a change of clothes may be useful) If you don’t fancy paddling you can walk along the tow-path. Children are welcome but they must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
For more information about Shropshire Paddlesports see the facebook page
Clubtail Count 2017!
May-June-July, 2017
Following the success of the Shropshire based 2016 Clubtail survey Genevieve Dalley and David Tompkins of the British Dragonfly Society are organising the great Clubtail Count 2017. This will cover a wider area than before and still include large Shropshire stretches of the River Severn as well as the rivers Teme, Vyrnwy, Dee and many more further afield! If you would like to get involved and think you could survey a site 3 times (minimum) between May and July this year then follow this link to find out more….
Dragonfly Larvae Workshop – Places still available
Saturday 8th April, 2017
Preston Montford Field Centre, Shropshire
Aim: Taught by County Recorder Sue Rees Evans (formerly McLamb) 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: Please report to reception at Preston Montford Field Centre (SJ433143). The workshop will start at 10.00am and finish at 4pm.
For further directions see
http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/prestonmontford.aspx
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 futher details and booking please contact Preston Montford Field Centre Tel: 01743 852040 or email: enquiries.pm@field-studies-council.org
Cost: £40
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 £10 (correct cash/cheque only).
Discovering Dragonflies
Tuesday 13th June and Tuesday 15th August, 2017
National Trust Carding Mill Valley, Shropshire
Aim: This year County Recorder Sue Rees Evans is running 2 dragonfly identification workshops at Carding Mill Valley. Aimed at beginners participants will learn to identify a range of species throughout both sessions. Classroom inputs during the morning will focus on identification of dragonflies (session 1) and damselflies (session 2). Following a brief lunch the afternoons will be spent outside at 2 different locations on the Long Mynd putting identification skills to the test.
Meet: Please report to the National Trust’s chalet pavilion at Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6JG. The workshop will start at 10am and finish at 2pm. For further directions see
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carding-mill-valley-and-the-long-mynd
Requirements: Packed lunch essential. 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.
Contact: Booking essential- telephone 0344 2491895 or http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carding-mill-valley-and-the-long-mynd
Cost: £10 per session. 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).
NB: Weather permitting both afternoons will be spent at pools on top of the Long Mynd so some participants will need to drive and car sharing will be very much appreciated.
Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies
14th-16th July, 2017
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 the 32 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 is the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire 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/centres/prestonmontford.aspx
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 852040 or email: enquiries.pm@field-studies-council.org
Cost: £275 (residential)
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 £10 (correct cash/cheque only).
Identifying Dragonflies
10am-4pm Saturday 29th July, 2017
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 is the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire and Odonata Tsar for the Shropshire Ecological Data Network.
Location: Bishops Wood Field Centre. For further directions see http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/bishopswood.aspx
Contact: For further details and booking please contact Bishops Wood Field Centre. Tel:01299 250513 or email enquiries.bw@field-studies-council.org
Cost: £40
Requirements: Packed lunch. Wellies/walking boots and waterproofs as we will be venturing! Total walking will be no more than 1km. Identification guides and hand lens if owned.