Why not grab your sun hat and sun tan lotion and head to Wicken Fen to hunt for Dragons?

Emperor, Hairy, Scarce Chaser, Ruddy Darter and Black Tailed Skimmer are just some of species of dragon and damselflies that maybe seen on Wicken Fen's amazing Dragonfly Safaris.

Experts from the British Dragonfly Project will lead visitors deep into the fen on Saturday and Sunday 12 and 13 June to discover these beautiful insects in their favourite wetland habitats.

Wicken Fen is one of the best locations in the country to see dragonflies with 22 species recently been recorded on the Fen. On warm summers day thousands of these beautiful highly coloured insects can be seen performing their amazing aerobatic flying displays along the waterways and ponds.

The darting insects which can fly forwards and backwards at speeds of over 10 metres a second are in the final stages of their life cycle. Flying adults generally only survive a couple of weeks but will have spent up to two years underwater, first as an egg and then as a larva.

Wicken Fen is home to the only Dragonfly Centre in the United Kingdom. The centre staffed by knowledgeable enthusiasts is open at weekends throughout the summer.

Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing (photo by Andy Thompson)

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Notes to Editors

1. Dragonfly Safaris are being held on Sat/Sun 12 & 13 June, 3, 4, 24, 25 July and Sat-Mon 28-30 Aug at 11am & 2.30pm. Safaris cost £8 Adults £5 children (National Trust members £3.50 and £2.50)

2. The Dragonfly Project run courses at Wicken Fen including Dragonfly Larva Identification and Dragonfly and Water Plant Identification. For further information see www.dragonflyproject.org.uk 

3. Wicken Fen was purchased by the National Trust in 1899, the first Nature Reserve owned by the Trust. It is widely recorded as the most species rich nature reserve in the country with over 8100 recorded species.

4. The National Trust is Europe's biggest conservation charity and looks after special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for ever, for everyone. People and places are at the heart of everything it does. 3.5 million members, 50,000 volunteers, 500,000 school children, and millions of visitors, donors and supporters help the Trust look after its 300 historic houses and gardens, 700 miles of coastline and 250,000 hectares of open countryside. www.nationaltrust.org.uk