Wildlife event is a fly away success
An area in south Shropshire has been designated England's first Dragonfly Hot Spot by the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) and to mark the launch a special event took place.
Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms held a Dragonfly themed day last weekend complete with workshops, walks and interactive activities.
There was pond dipping, guided walks and a self-led trail around the meadows along with a colouring competition.
A number of information boards have been installed along the riverside walks explaining the various flora and fauna which can be found in the vicinity.
Grant Wilson, centre manager, said: "It was a brilliant day and we are delighted with how it went. The British Dragonfly Society has designated the Discovery Centre and Onny Meadows as the only place in England to be named as a Dragonfly Hot Spot.
"We had many people come along on the day and they all seemed very interested. We had workshops running all day and the centre was quite busy.
"The weather was good, although the threat of rain meant the dragonflies were not flying as much as we would have liked. But in the afternoon, as it got warmer, we did see a few flitting about.
"We have been chosen as a hot spot because we have running and still water and this makes for ideal conditions for dragonflies.
"Because of this we have built pontoons out across the water which will help people catch sight of the dragonflies. People will be able to watch them in the water and as they walk along the riverside paths."
Dragonfly Hotspots are special places, carefully chosen because they support a good variety of Dragonfly and Damselfly species, are easy to access, and can provide opportunities for local communities to get involved with Dragonfly conservation and events.
On sunny days, visitors to Onny Meadows can enjoy views of Dragonflies gliding and zooming around the 30 acres of riverside meadows with oxbow ponds.
Fiona McKenna, BDS conservation outreach officer said: “We are so excited to be launching the first ever Dragonfly Hotspot in England with the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre team at Onny Meadows.
"It is a beautiful site and the staff here are really keen to conserve their local Dragonfly species. Together we really hope to inspire even more people to get to love these fantastic insects and to get involved in monitoring them and creating places for them to live."
