'Damsels and Dragons' was launched on Saturday, at Welston Court Science Centre, as part of the Darwin Weekend of Science. The project encourages all members of the community to learn more about how to observe, identify and protect dragonflies and damsel flies.

Suitable habitats for these beautiful creatures are declining, and the Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival hopes the project will raise awareness of the threat to these organisms, as well as creating a database of observations made by the public.

At the launch, Barclays Plc. announced their support of this event and other key parts of the Darwin Festival's 2001 programme. They are supporting the festival's community work with a donation of £18,000, which will be spent in Pembrokeshire. This is the largest amount donated by Barclays to a Pembrokeshire project for some time.

Organised dragonfly hunts are taking place in the next few weeks. Further details and fact packs from the festival office (tel: 01646 699220).