Updated January 1996

BDS - The British Dragonfly Society
BRITISH DRAGONFLY SOCIETY GIF

The following is taken from the BDS application form:

The British Dragonfly Society was founded in 1983. The membership has grown rapidly since then and now is one of the world's largest societies devoted to the study, conservation and enjoyment of dregonflies. We hope that you will join us so that together we can help to promote awareness of these fascinating insects and help to conserve their natural habitats. By sharing field observations of their behaviour, distribution and life-cycle we can increase our understanding of their biology and habitat requirements - many aspects of which are atill poorly known. Such an understanding is vital for conservation management.

Our dragonflies are at risk! Dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures: their ancestors lived over 300 million years ago, more than 100 million years before the age of the dinosaurs! It would be tragic if, having survived such an unimaginable number of years, these beautiful insects were to suffer an unprecidented decline at the hands of our generation. Dragonflies breed in water and so, if they are to be protected, their habitats must be conserved. However, suitable habitats are fast disappearing as farm ponds are drained and ditches piped underground, peat bogs destroyed and rivers canalized and polluted. In the British Isles today, we have 39 breeding species but during the last 30 years three have become extinct here. Another six species are restricted to a handful of sites. Fortunately, many species are still common and can easily be attracted, even into urban gardens, by digging a small pond; then their spectacular aerobatics, brilliant colours and intriuing life-cycle can be witnessed at close quarters.

Benefits of membership include an anuual indoor meeting, field meetings, regional groups, biannual Journal of the BDS and biannual newsletter. In addition, members receive literature on dragonflies, activities and special offers on books and gifts.

See the media page for a BDS booklet on digging a pond for dragonflies.

For more information or to receive an application form please write to:

 The BDS Secretary
WH Wain
The Haywain
Hollywater Road
Borden
Hants.
GU35 0AD

Other Dragonfly information:

The National Dragonfly Museum
Ashton Mill
near Oundle
Nr Oundle
Peterborough
PE8 5LZ

Tel: 01832 272427

Open every weekend and bank holiday from June 14 to September 29, 10.30am to 5.00pm (admission charge).

Indoor live larva feeding demonstrations with TV microscopes link, displays, videos, shops and tea room. Outdoors, see river, wetland, pond, woodland habitats with many species of dragonflies on the wing (weather permitting!). Two on-site courses offered: one in larval identification and one in adult dragonfly and water plant identification. Also part of the museum is Ashton Water Dragonfly Sanctuary (free admission) which is open certain weekends in July and August from 12.00pm to 5.00pm. Please send SAE or ring the museum on the above number for further details or to discuss disabled access.

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