The hunt is on for glow-worms at a Cumbrian estate and people are being urged to take part..
Glow-worms are making a hopeful return to Lowther Estate, near Penrith, and the Lowther Conservation team is working with Manchester Museum and Cumbria Connect on the Cumbria Glow-worm Project.
Starting tomorrow, Wednesday June 11, the 10-week citizen science initiative will focus on surveying and supporting glow-worm populations across the estate.
Glow-worms are in decline across the UK and it is hoped the project will help better understand their presence, assess habitat health and support conservation efforts to help them thrive.
Volunteers for the Lowther project will receive training from experts at Manchester Museum, who bring decades of natural science expertise, to survey glow-worm habitats on summer evenings, gathering valuable data and to help guide potential introduction.
Bethany Dean, assistant curator of herpetology at Manchester Museum, said: “We’re keen to discover whether glow-worms are present at Lowther as it could provide opportunity for long-term monitoring of the population and better understanding of population trends.
“If glow-worms are currently not to be found here, the site could be a brilliant introduction site if deemed appropriate habitat.”
No experience is needed to volunteer — just a passion for nature and an eagerness to help on summer evenings.
To take part, email [email protected]
