Glow worm population healthy in Ledbury's Haugh Woods

A recent survey by Forestry England and volunteers from Ledbury Naturalists Field Club reveals a healthy population of glow-worms in some Herefordshire woodlands, as the ‘glowing season’ of late June and July continues.

Glow-worms need an undisturbed habitat with an abundance of slugs and snails although, recently, much of the glow-worms’ habitat has been lost.

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In an adult glow-worm’s short life, the female must emerge to climb up plant stems and glow to attract a male flying low and scanning for their mate. As a natural controller of pests, gardeners should treasure glow-worms in their garden.

Kate Wollen, area ecologist for Forestry England said: “Happily, this year’s July survey in Haugh Woods found 70 glowing females, indicating that the population remains healthy across the woodland. We hope this promising news means we can look forward to the glowing season continuing to light up our woodlands for years to come.”

Forestry England’s Haugh Woods near Hereford and Dymock Forest are two sites where they can be seen after dark.