The British Dragonfly Society

The British Dragonfly Society was founded in 1983 by a small group of dragonfly enthusiasts and scientists. The Society has grown substantially since that time and the current BDS membership of about 1,500 is spread the length and breadth of the country, as well as into Europe and beyond. We have three main aims: to carry out and support research on dragonflies, to conserve dragonflies and to engage the public with dragonflies and their wetland habitats.Within the British Dragonfly Society is the Dragonfly Conservation Group (DCG), a consortium of dragonfly experts who focus on the research and conservation aspects of the society. All members work with the British Dragonfly Society and their help is invaluable to the work we do.. The recording network is vital to producing key publications such as the Atlas of Dragonflies in Britain and Ireland numerous local dragonfly atlases and the Dragonfly App. We support both student and professional level research projects looking at a variety of aspects of dragonfly biology and ecology as well as publishing research on dragonflies, both from the UK and abroad, in our well respected Journal of the British Dragonfly Society. It provide policy support through our data and expertise by being part of a number of key partnerships, such as the State of Nature Partnership and the Wales Biodiversity Partnership, while our Conservation Officer also sits in a number of key working groups, for example the Species Expert Group (SEG). This society works hard to increase public understand and awareness of dragonflies, their conservation and the challenges they face in order to increase concern and action for dragonflies. It has a network of dedicated BDS Local Recorders in 72 Vice Counties across Britain. These volunteers work hard to introduce people within their vice-county to dragonflies and are happy to provide advice and support to those with a keen interest but little experience in dragonflies and dragonfly recording.