Take Part In British Waterways National Wildlife Survey

20 May 2008

This is the fifth year that British Waterways has conducted it's annual survey and last year, despite the wet weather, there were almost 4000 sightings of over 60 different species. For 2008, British Waterways has joined forces with the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) to focus on dragonflies and damselflies. These are two of the UK's most visually stunning insects that, in recent years, have come under threat. Dragon and damselflies are temperature-sensitive, providing a useful indicator of the impacts of climate change and data collected by the BDS shows that a third of the 39 dragonfly species in the UK are in decline.

The information gathered will be added to British Waterways' species database that records biodiversity on the inland waterways and is used to help plan the management of the canals and rivers and the protection of their rich array of wildlife.

Dr Mark Robinson, National Ecology Manager, British Waterways explains:

"Over half the population lives within five miles of one of our canals or rivers so we'd like as many people as possible to visit their local waterway this summer, whether by boat, foot or bike and tell us about the wildlife they see there. We need to know what's there so that we can protect and look after our waterway creatures, for example installing bat bricks, bird boxes, otter holts and soft banks for water voles."

"Watch out for dragonflies on sunny days, basking on light coloured surfaces including fences and footpaths. Britain's beautiful inland waterways are havens for a variety of wildlife, and summertime is a great time to spot it, including herons, kingfishers, swans, coots, moorhens, mallards, bats, foxes, frogs and toads and newts.You may also be lucky enough to see some of our rarer and shier species including otters, water voles, badgers and grass snakes."

Katharine Parkes, Conservation Officer, British Dragonfly Society adds:

Dragonflies have survived the extinction of the dinosaurs and several ice ages, but can they survive the increasing pressures imposed by mankind? We are delighted that British Waterways' annual National Wildlife Survey is focusing on dragon and damsel flies this year, as the information collected will increase our understanding of where and how quickly our dragonflies are moving and will help us to make sure we are providing our wildlife with the best opportunities to react to changes.

To find out more, people can visit British Waterways' online guide to waterway wildlife at www.waterscape.com/wildlife and download a reporting form, together with information about places to visit on the waterways.Once they've completed their forms, visitors should enter the data on the website.Alternatively, people can take part by filling in a freepost reply form, part of a special wildlife guide for families visiting the waterways, downloadable from Waterscape.com or available by calling British Waterways Customer Service Centre on 01923 201120.

Ends

For more press information, interviews and images, contact:
Susan Duncan, British Waterways,tel: 0207 985 7276 or07796610427

Notes to Editors

British Waterways cares for a 2,200-mile network of canals and navigable rivers throughout Britain, working to provide a sustainable future for the inland waterways and generate maximum benefit and enjoyment to all from this unique environmental and leisure resource.We work with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to unlock the potential of the inland waterways and generate income for reinvestment in the waterways for the benefit of the millions who visit and care for the waterways every year.

Waterscape.com is the comprehensive, easy to use online guide to Britain's inland waterways, giving visitors access to the complete waterside experience. Visit www.waterscape.com for a full range of services including:

Waterscape.com promotes and provides information on all waterways in the UK, including rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs, working in conjunction with the Environment Agency, The Broads Authority and British Waterways. It is also partnering with boat hire companies, holiday cottage operators and other waterside businesses whose products and services will be available through the website.

There are hundreds of miles of almost uninterrupted hedgerow along the canal network, populated by birds such as sparrows, blackbirds and buntings.The sloping off-side bank of waterways also provides an ideal nesting habitat for moorhens, coots and mute swans, while visiting birds like kingfishers and herons are attracted to the wealth of fish in the canals.

British Dragonfly Society
Notes for editors
Aims of the Society
Founded in 1983 (celebrating 25 years this year), the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) is a Registered Charity, number 800196. Its aim is to encourage and support the study and conservation of dragonflies in the UK and further afield.
Contact details
Conservation Officer: Katharine Parkes, BDS,
c/o Natural England (West Midlands),
Attingham Park,
Shrewsbury
SY4 5JA
Tel: 01743 282021
katharine.parkes@naturalengland.org.uk
Secretary: Henry Curry,
British Dragonfly Society,
23, Bowker Way,
Whittlesey,
Peterborough
PE7 1PY
bdssecretary@dragonflysoc.org.uk
Website: www.dragonflysoc.org.uk