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. 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: Dates and plans for all 2019 events to follow soon. (All 2018 events listed below have taken place, but they give you an idea of some of the courses that will take place in 2019).
Dragonfly Larvae & Exuviae Workshop
Saturday 28th April, 2018
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: 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: £45
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 (correct cash/cheque only).
Dragonfly Larvae & Exuviae Workshop
Saturday 14th April, 2018
Bishops Wood Field Centre, Worcestershire
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: Bishops Wood Field Centre. The workshop will start at 10am and finish at 4pm. For further directions see
http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/bishopswood.aspx
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.
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
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 (correct cash/cheque only).
Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies
13th-15th July, 2018
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 – the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire for 7 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/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: £265 (residential shared room price)
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 28th July, 2018
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 – the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire for 7 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/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.
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).
Clubtail Count 2018
May- July 2018
Following the successful Clubtail Counts in 2016 and 2017 the British Dragonfly Society is again running this survey. All are very welcome to take part and no prior knowledge is required. Click the link below to find out more.
Bioblitz at Prees Heath Common Reserve
19th July, 2018
8am-8pm
This event is part of Chris Packham’s UK Bioblitz!
A range of activities are available throughout the day including a look at pond life from 2pm. Sue Rees Evans will also be at the pond from 2pm recording dragon and damselflies. For full details and links to information on Chris Packham’s UK Bioblitz please click on the pdf link below.
Beeches Field Reserve, Telford: Introduction to Dragonflies Workshop (part 2)
Ellie Colver of the British Dragonfly Society is returning to Beeches Field Reserve to see what species are in flight in July and trying to find some of the Dragonfly Challenge species! Find out about the Challenge here.
This event is being funded by the Telford @ 50 project
Cost: FREE
Contact: Lindsay Ward Tel: 01952 432244
Contact Email: Contact person by email
Meet: Contact Lindsay Ward for details on where to meet.
Time: Start: 13:00 Finish: 15:00
Requirements: Appropriate outdoor clothing.
For more information follow this link https://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/upcoming-events?page=1
Dragonfly Challenge 2018
Join the British Dragonfly Society’s Dragonfly Challenge 2018 and be on the look out for 6 species during July. A great way for beginners to get involved in dragonfly recording!
Follow this link for all the details:
https://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/dragonfly-challenge