I have lived just a ten minute walk from the eastern edge of the New Forest National Park since the end of 2002, in a place whose name means "Deep dene by the woods".  From the start, I came to know some parts of the Forest fairly well, seeking out hidden places as much as I could.  The streams, bogs and pools fascinated me, especially in summer when dozens upon dozens of powder-blue dragonflies seemed to be flying everywhere there was water.  Eventually I learned that they were Orthetrum coerulescens, commonly known as the Keeled Skimmer, belonging to the insect order Odonata.

Gradually (very gradually) I learned more and by 2017, having realised how important it is to give at least something back however small, I began recording what I saw and submitting my records to the local County Dragonfly Recorder, initially via iRecord.  My life as an odo addict was underway.