British Waterways’ 2008 National Wildlife Survey is launched

This is the fifth year that British Waterways has conducted its annual survey and last year, despite the wet weather, there were almost 4000 sightings of over 60 different species.

Useful indicator of the impacts of climate change

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.

Protect and look after our waterway creatures

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.

Inland waterways are havens for a variety of wildlife

"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."

BW's National Wildlife Survey is focusing on dragon and damselflies

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 damselflies 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."

Fill in British Waterways' 2008 National Wildlife Survey. Alternatively, take part by filling in a freepost reply form, part of a special wildlife guide for families visiting the waterways, downloadable from www.waterscape.com/wildlife or available by calling British Waterways Customer Service Centre on 01923 201120.

Find out more about the British Dragonfly Society