As one in three British dragonflies face the prospect of extinction, the first ever dragonfly centre in the UK is opening to help raise their profile and champion the plight of these iconic insects.
Based at the National Trust’s Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire this new centre will tell the story of these fascinating and beautiful insects and provide advice on what the public can do to help in their battle for survival.
Naturalist and BBC Springwatch Presenter, Chris Packham said:
'The loss of wetland habitat throughout the UK is having a massive impact on the long-term survival prospects for many dragonfly species.
'Since the 1960s three species have become extinct and a third of the forty-two species found in Britain are under threat of extinction.
'This is why sites such as such as Wicken Fen are so important in giving many of our dragonfly and other threatened species the chance of survival.'
Wetland habitats such as Wicken Fen are very important for dragonflies, which are in decline nationally. The loss of wetland habitat due to development and intensive agriculture, together with run-off and wind drift from insecticides and herbicides is having a devastating effect on dragonflies.
Wicken Fen is one of the best locations in the UK to spot dragonflies, with 21 species including the Emperor dragonfly and Hairy dragonfly breeding on the fen. On a warm summer’s day thousands of these beautiful highly coloured insects can be seen performing their aerobatic flying displays along the waterways and ditches.
Stuart Warrington, the National Trust’s Nature Conservation Advisor for the East of England, said:
'Dragonflies symbolise the importance of Wicken Fen and our ambitious project to create a 22 square mile nature reserve, in order to provide space for nature to flourish and allow people to get close to thousands of different species.'
'Work to develop good quality habitats for dragonflies, such as clean ditches and ponds, has led to successful breeding of all the species found at Wicken and on the land surrounding the fen.'
The Dragonfly Centre is a joint initiative between the National Trust, the British Dragonfly Society and the Dragonfly Project and is housed in a renovated former fen worker’s cottage.
Volunteers will help to manage the new centre which will house displays about dragonflies. There will also be a regular programme of events from guided walks, dragonfly safaris to introductory and advanced courses.
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