21st June 2007

Looking for Dragons & Damsels

Gravel extraction has created a network of over 200 lakes and pond in the Blackwater Valley and if you know where to look you’ll find dragons and damsels... Not the  fire-breathing dragons or damsels in distress as featured in heroic adventure stories of old, but fast-flying dragonflies and delicate damselflies with their flashing wings and iridescent bodies found darting around the area’s many water bodies.

Did you know that dragonflies were among the first flying insects to appear on earth and have survived almost unchanged for over 300 million years? That they belong to an order of insects called Odonata (meaning toothed jaw in ancient Greek), which all have two pairs of wings and long ten-segmented bodies? Or that there about  5,300 species of dragonfly and damselfly world-wide, 39 of which are found in Britain, with 30 of them recorded in the Blackwater Valley? In fact the Blackwater Valley was described as a dragonflies’ paradise in the 1930s and today it still remains one of the best areas in Britain to see these beautiful and exciting creatures.

Unfortunately adult dragonflies live only a few weeks in contrast to the five years some species spend as a developing youngster, or larva. Warm, still, sunny days are when you are most likely to see them on the wing – dragonflies are solar powered and need warm sunshine to reach operating temperature before they can fly – so get out and look for them when the sun is shining.

If you would like to find out more about these fascinating creatures which are right on your doorstep and discover the best places to see them buy a copy of Blackwater Valley Dragonflies written by
Ken Crick and Dr Jim Bennett and published by Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership.

“I find them endlessly fascinating,” says Ken, “and because the Blackwater Valley has so many ponds and lakes as well as the river itself, it is literally a dragonflies’ paradise. In fact of the 39 breeding species found in the British Isles 30 have been observed in the Blackwater Valley catchment area.” Ken has been interested in dragonflies since he was a boy and has been actively recording and photographing the activities of the dragonflies in the Valley for the past 10 years.

This attractive, full-colour, 48-page booklet Blackwater Valley Dragonflies is available from selected libraries and tourist information centres in the local area and costs £2.50. Alternatively order a copy for £3 to include p+p direct from the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership(BVD), Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 2PS (make cheques payable to Blackwater Valley). For more details ring 01252 331353.

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For further information contact: Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331353. Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 2PS.