GLOW WORM sites UK

[nightshade]

there are more sightings than I thought, after googling Glow Worms UK as a search,
http://website.lineone.net/~galaxypix/

[aeshna]

Hi Nightshade,

some of these look old records especially the ones in my former county of Durham. There's no dates on a lot of them but its a good web site and I applaud their undertaking of it. The glow worm is a species I've never seen, sadly.

Cheers

Aeshna

[nightshade]

Hello Aeshna as far asI can see anything that is nocturnal and takes a bit of finding
has very sketchy records e.g.bats,glow worms records seem to end where tv begins!
Mind you, if you talk to older people (in the pub is a good place)and sow the seed quite a few will get back to you with reminiscenses,hear say,some even positive id of locations
The Mendip link started through a youngster and has progressed to an old chap naming
areas including a farm I pass daily!
If you like detective work you look for feeding grounds and habitat, ask around, people are very helpful(some make things up just to be helpful and beware of anyone who wants you on your own )There are sites that will give botanical info or invertabrate info for counties from big surveys
I hope I have not chewed your ear off good luck if you do attempt to find new colonies

[speckled wood]

For the past 5 years many of my June and July evening have been spent walking along a canal in south cheshire counting the glowworms. surprised that I also find good numbers alongside the busy A49.

My view is that the glowworm is far more widespread than we might think. Problem is that these days we go about in cars with full beam headlamps, few people walk or cycle late and night and to see them easily you need dark conditions and to go slowly. Also to be there at the right time which in midsummer is after 1130 PM

A truly magical insect

[John]

I had never seen a Glow Worm ever but when I travelled down to an Oxfordshire village (Thrupp) after a Scops Owl we found one right by the side of an entrance to a bridge where the railway went over. That was on the 17th June this year.

John

[speckled wood]

I believe that the best site in Oxforshire is Ashford Rowant, if you are in Axfordshire you should also be in easy range of a site along the old railway between Ashchurch and Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire which I understand is one of the best sites for the glowworm in the UK

[speckled wood]

For anyone looking for Glowworm sites in Cheshire, I can give along A49 around where Chester to Crewe Railway Crosses the road at Beeston near Tarporley (usually one or two near the bridge) also alongside Shropshire Union canal towpath between A49 Bridge and Tilston Lock).

Along old railway between Chester and Hawarden near Saughall (now a cycle track).

Also reports old sighting in Delemere Forest.
For Shropshire I have also seem them alongside the Railway to the North of Church Stretton.

Best time of year to look is around 20 June to 20th July

[Twizzle]

Hi all

Not been on the site for ages and ages. Anyway, always wanted to find glow worms and last night I cracked it. My friend and i were badger watching and just as we were leaving i spotted that all important glow. A first for me and a very pleasing one at that. The location was the woods at Seaton Pits near Wickhambreaux. South East Kent. Amazed by how bright the emitted light was. There were females with males and just females on their own. Absolute magic.
Twizzle

[tigger]

I've watched Glow worms on Upton Heath and Barrow Hill (nr Corfe Mullen, Dorset) for the last two years. Last year we organised a walk and got the kids to find the glow worms... they loved it. I think 6 was the most in one spot!

[kiltoncomp]

there were lots around Tenby (West Wales) around five years ago, not been since so don't know what the situation is like now,
it was the first time we had found Glowworms, so we were fascinated by them, the numbers must have been 40 or 50 , so they were obviously doing well.

Brian.

[ancientone]

I've been watching glow worms since 1955 in dozens of places along the south coast from Devon to my present home in East Kent. The most I have seen on one occasion was 55 within two or three hundred yards of my garden. The earliest sighting was on June 1st (this year) and it is rare to see one after August. They seem to favour warm humid evenings with little or no moonlight. The greatest threat is probably insecticide spraying although as you can imagine the flying male hunting for is that elusive little green glow may be easily distracted by street lamps, car headlights and my neighour's security lights. Grrr...