The 'Dragonfly Hotspot' 5 minutes outside of Lincoln

Whisby Nature Park has been recognised for the number of species of the insect that live there.

An emperor dragonfly
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 28th Jul 2021
Last updated 28th Jul 2021

Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln has been named a 'Dragonfly Hotspot' because of the variety of insects hatching there.

Its been given the accolade by the British Dragonfly Society and is just one of a handful of such sites across the country.

The sites are chosen based on the variety of dragonfly and damselfly species that live nearby.

At Whisby 23 different species have been recorded, including the giant 8cm emperor dragonfly.

The diversity is due to the variety of lakes, ponds and running water at Whisby, which make the former sand and gravel workings a haven for lots of insect species.

Grahame Hopwood, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Warden at Whisby Nature Park, said:

“We are extremely proud that Whisby Nature Park is receiving this recognition. It’s an important site for a wide range of wildlife and the diversity of dragonflies and damselflies really illustrates this.”

Fiona McKenna, Conservation Outreach Officer, British Dragonfly Society said:

“Whisby Nature Park is a wonderful place for dragonflies. Working together with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, we hope we can inspire people to find out more about these amazing insects and get involved with their conservation.”

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