Dragonfly Festival at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre

Arundel's wetland reserve turns its dragonfly season into a proper summer programme — boat safaris along the reedbeds, pond-dipping nets handed to small children, guided walks with people who actually know what they're looking at. It's a slow, watery kind of day out, built for looking rather than queuing.

Come for the morning when the light's better for spotting wings, and don't skip the boat safari — it's the best seat in the reserve, and it books up on fine days.