Dragonfly Tour at Wilder Doddington

Join guide Fiona McKenna to discover Doddington's resident dragons!

Your morning will consist of an indoor introduction followed by plenty of time exploring outdoors together in search of dragons. You will be introduced to the fascinating world of dragonflies and damselflies, their incredible lifecycle, how they evolved, where they like to live and what they need to thrive. 

Dragonflies can tell us a lot about the health of the environment as they are a top predator of other insects, if they are doing well then we know many other species must be faring well too. They also need water for part of their lifecycle so they can tell us about the health of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Wilder Doddington has 46 species that are resident or regular migrants to the UK, a nice manageable group of insects to get to grips with. You will look at the most common species that you can find locally, giving you a firm foundation to build upon. The key is to get to know a few common species well and then add to these each year to build your confidence. 

You do not need to be a scientist to appreciate dragonflies though, they are truly beautiful, symbolising summer, and have inspired poets and artists throughout history. Lincolnshire's own Alfred Lord Tennyson was inspired to write a well known poem about them in 1833.

So, whatever your reasons for wanting to get to know these special insects you will be welcomed along to spend a summer morning learning and exploring in search of dragons at Doddington. 

Your Guide: Fiona loves all wildlife but really focused in on getting to know dragonflies over the last 10 years. She has worked for the British Dragonfly Society for four years and has since taken on the County Dragonfly Recorder role for North Lincolnshire. Fiona is passionate about the habitats that support dragonflies throughout all stages of their life and encourages everyone to dig more ponds. 

No experience required, just a keen eye and a pair of binoculars if you have them. Booking essential.