Running until 31 August, Dragonfly Festival celebrates the wonder of wetlands with a host of performances, activities and family fun – all inspired by one of nature’s most beautiful insects.

Already enjoyed by more than 20 thousand visitors this summer, families can start their colourful wetland adventure at the Dragonfly Festival hub before darting off to explore the seasonal sights and sounds of the wetlands.

Families have plenty to look forward to in the festival’s final weeks, with highlights including a skilled aerialist filling the courtyard with sound, colour, fun activities and breathtaking circus skills, creative dragonfly-themed workshops and a fantastic puppet show to finish off the summer with a bang.

Adventure calls with dragonfly safaris, self-guided using a spotter sheet from the festival hub, and guided every Friday, where visitors can track down dazzling dragonflies weaving across the sky.

Visitors can also uncover a kaleidoscope of creatures during pond dipping sessions, test their skill and agility with outdoor games and discover the secret lives of minibeasts during mini beast hunting sessions.

From colourful circus performers and storytelling sessions to arts and crafts workshops, Dragonfly Festival has brought bursts of colour and energy to WWT London throughout the summer holidays, offering a host of accessible activities for all.

Alexia Hollinshead, general manager at WWT London, said:

“We’ve spotted 19 species of dragonfly at WWT London this season, including a Red-veined Darter, which is an unusual and exciting visitor to the site. With Dragonfly Festival entering its final weeks, now is the perfect time for families to come and see these amazing insects across our wetlands before the summer holidays come to an end.

Dragonfly Festival is all about getting families closer to nature, discovering the superpowers of wetlands and experiencing something exciting with every visit. Whether it’s spotting dragonflies for the first time on a safari or enjoying one of our live performances, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Dragonflies are among wetlands’ most captivating species – agile aerial hunters with shimmering wings and extraordinary life cycles. The festival highlights their importance to healthy wetland ecosystems and the need to protect the habitats they depend on.