Some of the most important dragonfly sites in Britain are the wetter parts of heathland, for example
in Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset. Today there is very little of this habitat in Essex. What little remains
is mostly found in Epping Forest. Up to the mid-19th century there were considerable tracts of open
wet-heath and bog in the Forest and these supported an impressive array of the dragonflies
characteristic of such sites, many of which have since become extinct in the Forest. A combination of
unsympathetic management (i.e. the drainage of wet areas) and natural ecological succession
subsequently led to the drying-out of bog-pools and wet-heathland. Until recently significant open
areas remained only on Deershelter and Sunshine Plains, but current management policies are
attempting to extend and enhance this habitat-type. It remains to be seen whether re-colonisation by
the rarer bog species which have been lost will be possible.
In addition to the aquatic habitats which are crucial for the earlier stages in the dragonfly's life-cycle,
it is also very important that breeding sites should be surrounded by a suitable hinterland of terrestrial
habitat. Marginal and emergent vegetation (in the form of rush or reed stems, for example) is often
important for the emergence of adults from the nymph stage, whilst areas of rank vegetation are
important to provide shelter during the vulnerable 'teneral' stage before the newly emerged insect
becomes fully adult. Finally, since adult dragonflies, like their nymphs, are fierce predators, open
areas of terrestrial habitat rich in insect-prey are required to sustain sizeable populations. In Epping
Forest open glades, rides and 'sun-spots' in the woodland provide just these conditions.
The Forest has an almost continuous history of active dragonfly observation since the mid-19th century
(Benton, 1988). We have a better knowledge of the ebb and flow of dragonfly populations in Epping
Forest than anywhere else in the county. Amongst the 19th century records. J. F. Stephens and the Epping
naturalists Edward and Henry Doubleday were prominent. Their reports from the 1830s and 40s, together
with Henry Doubleday's comprehensive list (Doubleday. 1871), comprise an astonishing 29 species
(Table 1). However, there is some doubt about the accuracy of some of these early identifications, and
localities, too, were not always given with any precision. Even taking this into account, it does seem that
the Forest was then rich in acid-bog species such as the Black Sympetrum (Sympetrum danae), the
White-faced Dragonfly (Leucorrhinia dubia) and the Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum). The
former has been recently re-found in the Forest, but the latter two have been long since extinct. These
early lists are also notable for the presence of several other remarkable or rare species. Two rare
moving-water species, the Club-tailed Dragonfly (Gomphus vulgatissimus) and the Scarce Chaser
(Libellula fulva) were recorded, suggesting the possibility that these species may once have been present
on the River Lee or Roding. The Scarce Emerald Damselfly was also reported at this time, but was lost
to the Forest until 1991, following a recovery from near-extinction in Britain during the 1980s. Henry
Doubleday reported the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) as occurring, but rarely, in the
Forest. Subsequent writers were sceptical about Doubleday's identification, but the recent unexpected
discovery of populations of this species, well outside their previously known range, in Bedfordshire and
elsewhere suggest that Doubleday may well have been right. The Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum
flaveolum) was also sporadically reported from the Forest in the last century.
The brothers F. W. and H. Campion were worthy successors to the Doubledays as Forest dragonfly
recorders in the first decade of this century. By this time the rarer bog species had disappeared, leaving
only the Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) and the Black Darter. Significantly, the latter
was recorded only in 1906 suggesting it was already rare or localised. The Campions recorded some
20 species, inferring that much good dragonfly habitat remained. Amongst the rare or interesting
species they noted were the Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), now very local and confined to
one or two coastal sites in Essex. It became extinct in the Forest in the late 1930s or 40s. In addition,
the Campions reported sightings of two rare migratory species - the Vagrant Darter (Sympetrum
vulgatum) in 1906 and the Yellow-winged Darter (S. flaveolum) in 1906 and 1908. The inter-war years
saw considerable dragonfly recording activity in the Forest and we have published reports, diaries
and collected specimens provided by such noteworthy naturalists as Cyril O. Hammond (who was
observing the Forest's dragonflies as early as 1923), Edgar E. Syms, Edward Pinniger and the late
Cynthia Longfield. Information provided by these observers covers the period up to the 1950s and
suggests a more or less stable dragonfly 'tally' in the Forest over that period. A new species, the Keeled
Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), however, became established, probably making use of wartime
bomb craters which studded the Forest. There was little systematic recording in the Forest between
the 1950s and 70s. During the 1980s many observers have contributed to our present knowledge of
the Forest dragonfly fauna, principally E. P. Ryan and A. McGeeney, but others who have contributed
include J. Shanahan, J. Bratton, P. Thompson and C. Dale. The current status of these recently recorded
species (post 1980) is summarised in the species list below and in Table 2.
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