Wicken Fen declared ‘dragonfly hotspot’ by the British Dragonfly Society

Wicken Fen is the latest area of the UK to be declared a “dragonfly hotpot”.

The National Trust, which owns and manages the nature reserve, said 22 of the UK’s 57 species of dragonfly and damselfly have been recorded on the site, including the rare Norfolk hawker.

It is one of just 23 places in the country to be designated as a dragonfly hotspot by the British Dragonfly Society.

It recognises the abundance of wetland habitats at Wicken Fen, including ponds and watercourses, which the insects need to complete the stages of their lifecycle, as well as the variety of species and easy access visitors can have to see them.

The insects lay their eggs in water or at the water’s edge, developing as larvae underwater, and hunting over or near water in their few weeks as adults.

Dave Stanforth, programming and partnerships officer for the National Trust at Wicken Fen, said: “With its plethora of ponds and watercourses, Wicken Fen is an ideal place for them.

“In particular it is the ‘dragonfly bay’ areas of open grass alongside the water which have provided these insects – which are nature’s most successful stalkers – to have great places to perch, but they also allow visitors to get fantastic up-close experiences of these beautiful creatures.”

The team at Wicken Fen have created a mix of open water, young and mature vegetation to provide the “optimal habitat” for dragonflies and damselflies.

The insects are increasingly being displaced from their usual habitats further south and on the continent by climate change.

Emperor dragonflies are now found at Wicken Fen after beginning to spread northwards about 20 years ago.

In May, the National Trust celebrated 125 years of ownership of Wicken Fen, which is one of he last remnants of undrained fenland in East Anglia.

Many of the measures that have contributed to the hotspot designation form part of the larger Wider Wicken Fen Vision, a 100-year project launched in 1999 that aims to create an even more diverse landscape for wildlife and people in the remaining stretch of fenland, the trust said.

Tim Coleshaw, chair of trustees for the British Dragonfly Society, said: “We are thrilled to be officially designating Wicken Fen as a dragonfly hotspot and continuing our partnership.

“We hope this new hotspot and their passionate staff and volunteer team will help inspire even more people to love these fantastic insects, and to get involved in monitoring and conserving them.”