Looking for Dragons
Hampshire
& Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have a number of really lovely nature reserves
which are recognised as being good sites to see dragonflies and damselflies.
Here are just some of the locations that will provide you with a great day out.
Full details can be found on the website
www.hwt.org.uk
Wildlife reserve: Winnall Moors,
Winchester
Type of site:
Reedbeds and former water meadows along the Itchen.
Wildlife Information: Great site for seeing dragon and damselflies flying around
the River Itchen and species such as the common darter basking close at hand on
the boardwalks. The dipping pond offers opportunities to see all the stages of
these insects’ life-cycles; and there are seasonal spectacles when a number of
species take flight in large numbers, including the stunning banded demoiselle
damselflies which fly in their hundreds.
Visitor facilities:
Boardwalk and surfaced paths, interpretation panels, benches and easy access to
Winchester city centre and recreation ground. Events and activities are held
throughout the year.
Wildlife reserve: Blashford Lakes,
Ringwood
Type of site:
Flooded gravel pits with woodland.
Wildlife Information: Great site for seeing dragon and damselflies around the
lakes and bordering woodland. Due to the wide range of wetland habitat types
present, an incredible 25 species are regularly recorded such as the
golden-ringed dragonfly on the Dockens Water, downy emerald dragonfly along the
woodland edges and small red-eye damselfly on the lakes. The site is also
visited by a number of interesting rarities, including the scarce chaser and
red-veined darter.
Visitor facilities: Five
viewing hides over lakes, one viewing hide in woodland, boardwalk and surfaced
paths, study centre with toilets and site information, interpretation panels,
benches, car parks. Events and activities are held throughout the year.
Wildlife reserve: Swanwick Lakes,
Near Fareham
Type of site:
Flooded old clay workings with meadows and woodland.
Wildlife Information: With a number of still-water bodies from small ponds to
large lakes, this site supports a wealth of dragon and damselfly species. As
well as large numbers of common species such as azure damselfly, the site has
rarer species such as hairy dragonfly, small red-eyed damselfly, and confirmed
breeding of downy emerald dragonflies.
Visitor facilities:
Surfaced paths, study centre with toilets and site information, interpretation
panels, benches, car park. Events and activities are held throughout the year.
Wildlife reserve: Pamber Forest,
Near Basingstoke
Type of site:
Ancient woodland with heath and wood pasture
Wildlife Information: Over 20 species recorded including club-tailed dragonfly,
which was a first for Hampshire, and the white-legged damselfly. The insects can
be found in the woodland streams and ponds during the breeding season, and
hunting for prey along the woodland rides. A great site for seeing beautiful
demoiselle damselfly and golden ringed dragonfly – both of which are spectacular
insects.
Visitor facilities:
Waymarked trails, benches, interpretation and information panels. Events and
activities are held throughout the year.
For more information about the Wildlife Trust, our nature reserves, and what you
can see, please look at our website
www.hwt.org.uk