Dragons dazzle Dorset

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Upton Heath Nature Reserve features in a new guide of the top 40 places in the UK to see dragonflies.  Despite the huge fire on 9 June, many species of dragonflies can still be seen on the remaining heathland.

Nigel Brooks, Warden at Dorset Wildlife Trust, says, “Upton Heath will make a slow recovery after the fire, but there are still areas of wet heathland and hidden ponds that are the perfect habitat for dragonflies. We have twenty-five recorded species on the reserve, including heathland species such as the black darter and small red damselfly. We also have the UK’s biggest dragonfly, the emperor. My favourite has to be the broad bodied chaser though because of the amazing patterns on its wings.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust is holding an Urban Dragonflies day on 6 August. There will be a guided walk in the morning across Borough of Poole reserve Alder Hills, followed by an informative slideshow while you eat your packed lunch at Upton Country Park. The day finishes with a guided visit to Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Upton Heath Reserve to look for heathland dragonflies.  Meet at the Alder Hills car park in Parkstone at 10.30am for the morning walk. Alternatively you can join at 12pm with your packed lunch at Upton Country Park car park for the slideshow, followed by the Upton Heath walk. 

The new guide “Best places to see: Dragonflies and damselflies” is published at www.wildlifetrusts.org/dragonflies