UK Dragonfly Site Guide
Abingdon, Oxon (SU516967 VC22)
Woodland and scrub on the banks of the Thames. Species seen here:

Ardley Quarry, Oxon (SP537273 VC23 Web)
A disused quarry with scrub, woodland and rough grassland. Owned by Viridor and managed by BBOWT. Species seen here:

Ashford Hill NNR, Hants (SU559621 VC12 Web)
This area is maintained as it would originally have been, as rough grazing within the floodplain. Owned by Natural England. Species seen here:

Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (SU722961 VC23 Web)
Two areas of chalk downland with some woodland on the edge of the Chilterns, one each side of the M40 motorway cutting. Car park for Beacon Hill (north side) at SU732966 and for Bald Hill (south side) at SU727958, both signposted off the unclassified road to Christmas Common from the A40 west of Stokenchurch. Two miles W of Stokenchurch. Managed by Natural England. Species seen here:

Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (SU550844 VC22 Web)
Aston Upthorpe Downs is a chalk downland site with open access. Park by the grain dryer at SU550844 on unclassified road off the A417 south of Aston Upthorpe village. The site was designated a SSSI in 1953 and is now within the North Wessex Downs AONB. 3½ miles SE of Didcot. Privately owned. Species seen here:

Aston, Oxon (SP339033 VC23)
My garden in Aston, Oxfordshire Species seen here:

Banbury, Oxon (SP469390 VC23)
A shallow pond adjacent to the canal on the Longford Park estate. Species seen here:

Barnwell Country Park, Northants (TL034870 VC32 Web)
The park comprises 37 acres of lakes, riverbank and meadows in the flood plain of the river Nene. Owned by Northants County Council. Species seen here:

Barton Fields, Abingdon, Oxon (SU511971 VC22 Web)
An area of reedbeds and wet woodland adjacent to the Thames. Owned by the Vale District Council and managed by Abingdon Naturalists Society. Species seen here:

Bentley Wood, Wilts (SU258292 VC8 Web)
A large mixed woodland on the Wilts/Hants border. More than 35 butterfly species are recorded there regularly, including every woodland species resident in southern England. There are also some small ponds which attract Odonata including the Downy Emerald. Managed by the Bentley Wood Charitable Trust. Species seen here:

Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP611116 VC24 Web)
Ancient woodland. Incorporates Oakley, Shabbington and York's Woods and Hell Coppice. Car park at SP610116 off the unclassified road from Oakley to Stanton St John. Seven miles NE of Oxford. Managed by the Forestry Commission. Species seen here:

Bernwood Meadows, Bucks (SP606111 VC24 Web)
Two wild flower meadows adjacent to Bernwood Forest. Very small car park at SP606111 off the unclassified road from Oakley to Stanton St John. 7 miles NE of Oxford. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Besselsleigh Wood, Oxon (SP448017 VC22)
A mixed woodland. Species seen here:

Bowdown Wood, Berks (SU501652 VC22 Web)
A large area of ancient woodland stretching from the heathland at Greenham Common down to the River Kennet. Half a mile south of Thatcham. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Bucknell Wood, Northants (SP660451 VC32)
A Forestry Commission wood. Species seen here:

Calvert Jubilee, Bucks (SP682251 VC24 Web)
A reclaimed clay pit. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Catfield Fen, Norfolk (TG370212 VC27 Web)
The reserve is a typical fen mixture of open water, reed, sedge and carr woodland. The reed is cut on a 1-2 year cycle, and sedge on a 3-5 year cycle. A Butterfly Conservation site. Species seen here:

Chimney Meadows, Oxon (SP364013 VC23 Web)
Chimney Meadows is the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust's largest nature reserve and its fields are part of an ancient landscape, created by the Thames and shaped by centuries of farming. Nine miles west of Oxford. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Cholsey Marsh, Oxon (SU601855 VC22 Web)
A marsh adjacent to the River Thames. Managed by BBOWT. Species seen here:

Cley Marshes, Norfolk (TG052444 VC27 Web)
It features a shingle beach and saline lagoons, along with a grazing marsh and reedbed. A Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve. Species seen here:

Collard Hill, Somerset (ST488340 VC6 Web)
Chalk grassland which has been carefully managed for the Large Blue. Three miles S of Glastonbury. Owned by the National Trust. Species seen here:

Compton Chine, Isle of Wight (SZ368851 VC10 Web)
An area of low cliffs which collapse into the sea regularly, providing habitat for the Glanville Fritillary. Owned by the National Trust. Species seen here:

Cothill Fen, Oxon (SU459996 VC22 Web)
Cothill NNR is part of the much larger Cothill Fen Special Area of Conservation (SAC), one of the most species-rich lowland calcareous fen systems in the UK. Three miles NE of Abingdon. Managed by Natural England. Species seen here:

Crockford Stream, Hants (SZ350990 VC11 Web)
A typical example of the New Forest heathland habitat, comprising a large expanse of open heath with areas of scrub and woodland edges. Managed by the Forestry Commission. Species seen here:

Crog Hill, Oxon (SU319837 VC22)
Chalk grassland Species seen here:

Crookham Common, Berks (SU520646 VC22 Web)
Lowland heath. Managed by BBOWT. Species seen here:

Crowle Moor, N. Lincs (SE745150 VC63 Web)
One of the richest lowland peat vegetation areas in the north of England. A Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve. Species seen here:

Culham, Oxon (SU505948 VC22)
The lock cut on the Thames. Species seen here:

Daneway Banks, Gloucs (SO937034 VC33 Web)
The Oolitic limestone grassland on the upper slopes of this SSSI is the most important habitat of this site, although scrub, woodland and neutral grassland add to the diversity. A Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust site. Species seen here:

Decoy Heath, Berks (SU612634 VC22 Web)
Decoy Heath consists of bogland, heathland and woodland. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Dersingham Bog, Norfolk (TF664285 VC28 Web)
The reserve lies between the town of Dersingham and the village of Wolferton, two km west of Sandringham. The A149 forms the site's eastern boundary, and a disused railway line between Dersingham and Wolferton marks the reserve's western boundary. Acid valley mire is found over much of the low-lying parts of the reserve where the ground is waterlogged for most of the year. There are also areas of heath and woodland. Managed by Natural England. Species seen here:

Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (SU467997 VC22 Web)
A mosaic of fossil-rich cliffs, fenland with ponds and streams, grassland, scrub and woodland set in an old quarry. 2½ miles north-west of Abingdon. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Eskdale, Cumbria (NY175008 VC70)
The valley of the River Esk. Species seen here:

Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (SP440065 VC22 Web)
Two large reservoirs near the Thames to the west of Oxford. Several areas of wetland have been established between the reservoirs and the river. Five miles W of Oxford. A Thames Water site. Species seen here:

Fence Wood, Berks (SU507716 VC22)
A mixed woodland with wide rides. Parking off Slanting Hill at SU507716. Owned by the Eling Estate. Species seen here:

Fermyn Wood, Northants (SP968849 VC32 Web)
Ancient woodlands containing semi-natural oak and ash woods, along with conifer plantations. Forestry Commission. Species seen here:

Finemere Wood, Bucks (SP717217 VC24 Web)
A mixture of broadleaved woodland, patches of scrub with paths and wild rides, with a meadow, ponds and streams. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Fineshade Wood, Northants (SP986985 VC32 Web)
A large mixed wood. Forestry England Species seen here:

Folly Park, Faringdon, Oxon (SU294949 VC23 Web)
Public park with pond and wild flower meadow. Managed by Vale of White Horse District Council. Species seen here:

Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria (SD458837 VC69 Web)
A restored peat bog. A Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve. Species seen here:

Gait Barrows NNR, Lancashire (SD479771 VC60 Web)
Gait Barrows NNR is a rich mosaic of limestone habitats including unique limestone pavement, yew woodland, fen and reedbed. Owned by Natural England. Species seen here:

Goring, Oxon (SU600797 VC23)
The Oxfordshire bank of the River Thames from Goring to the railway bridge. Species seen here:

Greenham Common, Berks (SU501652 VC22 Web)
Greenham and Crookham Common on the southern edge of Newbury forms the largest area of lowland heath in West Berkshire. The site is owned by West Berks Council. Species seen here:

Hatchet Small Pond, Hants (SU364011 VC11 Web)
Hatchet Pond is the largest body of water in the New Forest. Created in the 18th Centuary to provide power for an iron mill, the pond today provides valuable habitats for wildlife. Managed by the Forestry Commission. Species seen here:

Hickling Broad, Norfolk (TG428222 VC27 Web)
Hickling Broad is situated in the upper stretches of the River Thurne, and is the largest expanse of open water in the Broads. A Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve. Species seen here:

Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon (SP513047 VC22 Web)
A shallow lake which has been designated as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. This site is managed by Oxford City Council. Species seen here:

Holkham NNR, Norfolk (TF901456 VC28 Web)
Four thousand hectares of saltmarsh, grazing marsh, dunes, reedbeds, mudflats, sandy beach and pinewoods. Managed by Natural England. Species seen here:

Homefield Wood, Bucks (SU812868 VC24 Web)
A warm Chilterns slope, with woodland and grassland. The wild flowers that grow here attract butterflies such as the marbled white, white-letter hairstreak and the silver-washed fritillary. A variety of bees also find nectar in the flowers, and over 400 species of moth have been recorded, including Blotched Emerald and Striped Lychnis. Owned by Forest Enterprise and managed by BBOWT. Species seen here:

How Hill, Norfolk (TG373190 VC27 Web)
How Hill National Nature Reserve forms a large area of established fen within the River Ant valley, north of Ludham Bridge. It is remarkable for its variety of Broads habitats. The reserve is of national and international importance for nature conservation, supporting a wide range of wetland plant communities and associated birds, insects and animal species. Managed by the Norfolk Broads Authority. Species seen here:

Hyde Hall, Essex (TQ781995 VC18 Web)
A 360 acre site, part of which is a cultivated garden. A Royal Horticultural Society garden. Species seen here:

Kelling Heath, Norfolk (TG098413 VC28 Web)
This SSSI is described by Natural England as 'dwarf scrub heath - lowland' and covers 90 hectares. Lowland heath is a rare and declining habitat, and is very rich in specialised wildlife. The vegetation is largely open heathland comprising common gorse, western gorse, heather, bell heather and bracken. The site is managed by two bodies of Trustees. Species seen here:

Kew Gardens, Surrey (TQ182767 VC17 Web)
Extensive area of parkland, lakes and ornamental gardens. Managed by the RHS. Species seen here:

Lardon Chase, Berks (SU586809 VC22 Web)
An area of steep chalk downland overlooking the River Thames on the western side of Streatley. Car park at SU583807 off the B4009. 1 mile W of Goring. Owned by the National Trust. Species seen here:

Latterbarrow, Cumbria (SD439829 VC69 Web)
This reserve has a mix of grassland, woodland and scrub. It is a haven for insect life. A Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve. Species seen here:

Leighton Moss, Lancashire (SD478750 VC60 Web)
Leighton Moss is the largest reedbed in north-west England. An RSPB reserve. Species seen here:

Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants (SZ309919 VC11 Web)
The reserve covers nearly 500 acres between the mouth of the Lymington river and the village of Keyhaven. The adjacent mudflats and salt marshes outside the seawall are leased by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and form their Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes Reserve. Managed by Hampshire County Council. Species seen here:

Marston Meadows, Oxon (SP519076 VC23)
Wet meadows in the flood plain of the River Cherwell. Species seen here:

Meathop Moss, Cumbria (SD442819 VC69 Web)
A raised mire. A Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve. Species seen here:

Mortimer, Berks (SU640651 VC22)
Conifer plantations with wide rides containing heather and gorse. Species seen here:

Myers Allotment, Lancashire (SD474749 VC60 Web)
The site is largely covered with scrub and secondary woodland, with areas of exposed limestone pavement. Owned by Leighton Hall estate and managed by Butterfly Conservation. Species seen here:

North Cave Wetlands, E. Yorkshire (SE882330 VC61 Web)
A mixture of shallow and deep water lakes and reedbeds created from former sand and gravel pits. A Yorkshire Wildlife Trust site. Species seen here:

Otmoor, Oxon (SP569126 VC23 Web)
A large area of wet meadows and reedbeds. Park at the bottom of Otmoor Lane at SP569126. Seven miles NE of Oxford. An RSPB reserve. Species seen here:

Paices's Wood, Berks (SU587638 VC22 Web)
This 35 hectare (86.5 acre) former gravel extraction site consists of extensive woodland, grassland and several lakes located in a narrow valley just outside Aldermaston. Privately owned and managed in agreement with West Berks council. Species seen here:

Parsonage Moor, Oxon (SU460997 VC22 Web)
An area of calcareous fen adjacent to Cothill Fen. Three miles NE of Abingdon. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Radipole Lake, Dorset (SY674798 VC9 Web)
A large wetland with extensive reed beds. An RSPB reserve. Species seen here:

Radley Lakes, Oxon (SU519975 VC22 Web)
Thrupp, Bullfield and Orchard Lakes are flooded former gravel pit which are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including butterflies and dragonflies. Thrupp Lake is managed by the Earth Trust. Species seen here:

Rushy Common, Oxon (SP381073 VC23 Web)
Part of the Lower Windrush Valley Project. The Lower Windrush Valley covers 28 square kilometres of West Oxfordshire, incorporating the floodplain of the River Windrush from Witney to where it joins the River Thames at Newbridge. This site is owned by Oxfordshire County Council. Species seen here:

Silchester Common, Hants (SU621621 VC12 Web)
The common occupies 56 ha in total, and is one of a few surviving tracts of heathland in the Thames Valley region of North Hampshire. Silchester Parish Council Species seen here:

Sole Common Pond, Berks (SU411706 VC22 Web)
A pond rich in wildlife with areas of bog, heath and woodland in the middle of a piece of ancient Berkshire common. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Standlake Common, Oxon (SP385020 VC23 Web)
Flooded former gravel pits in the lower Windrush valley. Species seen here:

Steart Marshes, Somerset (ST252442 VC5 Web)
An extensive wetland adjacent to Brigdwater Bay. WWT Species seen here:

Stonesfield Common, Oxon (SP390164 VC23)
This site is a mixture of grassland, woodland and scrub habitats on steep banks just south of Stonesfield and includes the more gently sloping Stonesfield Common. The limestone grassland that is found here is typical of steep banks in the Cotswolds. Stonesfield Common, Bottom and Banks is an SSSI. Natural England Species seen here:

Sydlings Copse, Oxon (SP553094 VC23 Web)
An area of deciduous woodland with some heath. No car park. Access via bridleway that leaves the B4027 at SP563102, between Stanton St John and Islip. 3½ miles NE of Oxford. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

The Coombes, Wilts (SU228826 VC7 Web)
A flower-rich unimproved chalk grassland and traditional hay meadow. National Trust Species seen here:

Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk (TF752443 VC28 Web)
An area of reedbeds and shallow lagoons leading to the coast. An RSPB reserve. Species seen here:

Tophill Low, E. Yorks (TA075485 VC61 Web)
Tophill Low Nature Reserve is an active Yorkshire Water Treatment Works built in 1959. It formally opened as a Nature Reserve in 1993 and features 12 hides spread across a 300 acre site that flanks the River Hull. Two reservoirs dominate the reserve but there are also areas of marshes, ponds, woodland and grassland. A Yorkshire Water site. Species seen here:

University Parks, Oxford, Oxon (SP515072 VC23 Web)
A large area of parkland, ornamental gardens and river banks. Managed by Oxford University. Species seen here:

Walsey Hills, Norfolk (TG062440 VC27)
An area of scrub east of Cley marshes. A Norfolk Ornithological Association site. Species seen here:

Wasdale, Cumbria (NY173072 VC70)
The valley of the River Irt, and Wastwater. Species seen here:

Waterperry Wood, Oxon (SP606094 VC23)
Forestry Commission. Species seen here:

Watlington Hill, Oxon (SU702936 VC23 Web)
A mosaic of short rabbit turf, scrub and dense yew woodland. Car park at SU710935 off road between Watlington and Christmas Common. Two miles E of Watlington. Owned by the National Trust. Species seen here:

Whelford Pools, Glos (SU175995 VC33 Web)
Part of the Cotswold Water Park. Two miles SE of Fairford. A Gloucester Wildlife Trust reserve. Species seen here:

Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (SP599149 VC23 Web)
An area of mixed woodland with some wide rides. Parking at SP600150 (gated track to car park). Five miles south of Bicester. A BBOWT reserve. Species seen here:

Wicken Wood, Bucks (SP730412 VC24)
An ancient woodland site on the Bucks/Northants border. It was once part of the much larger Whittlewood Forest. Species seen here:

Wootton Copse, Hants (SZ248995 VC11 Web)
The inclosure consists largely of mature mixed woodland with open rides and damp meadow along the northern edge, close to the course of Avon Water. Both the rides and meadows are well stocked with nectar sources which attract butterflies. Managed by the Forestry Commission. Species seen here:

Wytham Woods, Oxon (SP460085 VC22 Web)
An ancient semi-natural woodland. It is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and is one of the most researched pieces of woodland in the world. It is exceptionally rich in flora and fauna, with over 500 species of plants, a wealth of woodland habitats, and 800 species of butterflies and moths. Owned by the University of Oxford Species seen here: