Summer Holiday Wild fun! Week One

The school summer holidays have arrived – six whole weeks to keep the family entertained may be viewed as a tall order but worry not, our week-by-week guide to wild fun is here to help!

Read on and discover how our week-long themes will inspire discovery and creativity to keep everyone engaged, no matter how the weather behaves. So, let’s get started with week one and delve into the world of dragonflies and damselflies.

Kick off the school holidays with going on a dragon hunt! Did you know that dragonflies have been around for 300 million years? That makes them older than us humans!

There are lots of other fascinating facts to discover about dragonflies and damselflies – for example, they are one of the animal kingdoms most successful predators, catching up to 95% of their prey, they can move in astonishing ways – rather like a helicopter can, and their eyes take up most of their head – giving them excellent all-round vision.

Orange-brown dragonfly perched on grass in dappled sunlight — © Tom Day

Where to Go Hunting

You can see dragonflies and damselflies in lots of different places – from ditches to garden ponds, from rivers to lakes, and different species will thrive in different habitats. Why not go on a local walk and see if you can spot any? You can explore the different species of dragonflies and damselflies on our website’s wildlife explorer pages. Or, read our blog ‘Six Dragonflies and Damselflies to Spot over Summer’ which also provides information on some of the best places across Hertfordshire and Middlesex to go hunting for them.

Common Blue Damselfly perched on a twig in dappled sunlight — © Tom Day

Visit Panshanger Park - a Dragonfly Hotspot!

We’re very excited to have our first Dragonfly Hotspot in Hertfordshire at Panshanger Park and, as fortune would have it, on 29 July there’s a free family-orientated event there to celebrate this milestone. Come along and enjoy guided walks (suitable for families with children aged 8+), visit the new dragonfly trail and learn more about dragonflies and damselflies from the interpretation boards alongside it. You can pick up a free dragonfly trail quiz sheet on the day and throughout the school summer holidays from the Thieves Lane car park (charges apply).

Get Creative!

Looking for a quiet or wet weather activity? Consider drawing or painting the dragonflies and damselflies you’ve discovered or, make mobile dragonfly decorations for your home or garden, using some wild finds – here’s how.

A verdant green stretch of the river Mimram

Coming Up

Next week we’ll be looking at a range of ways that you can learn more about the fascinating world of minibeasts and enjoy lots more wild fun this summer holiday.

And finally…

Above all, we want you to stay safe and enjoy the great outdoors and all it has to offer. To help you do that, we’ve produced this blog ‘Stay Safe in Hot Weather’ – with advice on water safety and fire safety, as well as tips for your own personal safety and comfort.

Why not keep a record of all your school summer holiday activities? We’d love to see what you get up to so please do share your stories, photos and creations with us on social media. You’ll find us at @hertswildlifetrust on Instagram and Facebook and @HMWTBadger on Twitter .