Dragonflies 'all over the place' at wetland centre

Dragonflies are "all over the place" at a Sussex wetland centre, where celebrations are under way for the insects, staff have said.

WWT Arundel is hosting its Dragonfly Festival until 31 August, with activities including boat safaris, pond dipping and wildlife walks.

About 20 species of dragonflies are regularly spotted at the reserve in West Sussex during warmer months and reserve manager Suzi Lanaway said: "At the moment, in this hot weather, they are all over the place and really beautiful to see."

She said about 47 species of dragonfly and damselfly breed across the UK.

Lizzy Pearce, who is based at the centre, said the festival was "a fantastic way to celebrate these incredible insects while inspiring more people to explore our wetlands".

The trust said dragonflies were among the most beautiful species to be found in wetland habitats, describing them as "agile aerial hunters with shimmering wings and remarkable life cycles that begin underwater before transforming into masters of the air".

The festival shines a light on their "vital role" in healthy wetland ecosystems and the importance of protecting habitats, it added.

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