Years ago I came across a glow worm in Chee Dale (sorry for the unscientific name), it was among the ballast of the railway. It was the only time I've ever seen one in Britain. What stuck in my mind was just how bright it was, a marvel. Has anyone else come across them in Derbyshire or elsewhere in Britain?
Glow Worms
- Thread starter Flotsam
- Start date
langcliffe
Well-known member
Used to see them a lot as a kid around the North Downs. That was nearly 70 years years, though.
aricooperdavis
Moderator
I saw one last year near Chapel Porth in Cornwall. I couldn't believe my luck!
royfellows
Well-known member
Loads and loads of them, well this was in the 1990s but I doubt anyhting has changed. Tilberthwaite Gill in the lakes. I camped up there, this was before the notices went up, out at night and what a sight to see. Never seen anything like it since.
underground
Active member
Big Jim is your man for glow worms. There are a number of sites in Derbyshire if you know where / why to look
Speleofish
Active member
Until my mother moved, I used to see them frequently in one of the lanes above Rodney Stoke (Somerset). last time I was there was about five years ago.
Big Jim 1
New member
Chee Dale is a known site for them in the county. In fact about 80% of the Derbyshire Dales have them with a few exceptions eg Long Dale (both of em) and a few minor dales like Flagg/Dowel/Silly Dales and a few more.
The glowing season is just about done now up here. I went to Woo Dale last night and didnt find any (I last surveyed that dale in 2018. A couple were still hanging on in Horseshoe Dale. They do occur away from the limestone areas too - a few old railway lines in the south of the county have them and there are some around Padley Chapel, Hathersage Booths and the Robin Hood - just up the road from the Oread hut that AlanW mentioned, though I think that population, which extended onto the A617 verges has been lost thanks to the street lighting at the Baslow roundabout.
Big Jim 1
New member
Interesting Phil. No records for there. Theres a vague 1950s record for Hope Woodlands with a hectad grid ref and also one for the edge of Ladybower (opposite the big layby on the A57 west of the bridge) from Derek Yalden (well know Biologist from Manchester Uni) from 1989. I tired to refind Yaldens Glowies this year but the area now looks unsuitable as the bank isnt managed. We also looked along the northern edge of the res around the New Barn area, but nothing. The problem is that Glowie populations can be very localised so chasing old records with vague locating names and poor resolution grid refs can be a right pain in the arse, hence I lose my sh*t when people submit records with Hectad or monad grid refs.
Still have to chase up an old record for the south side of Lose Hill from 1972 to see if they are still there.
Ill add Lockerbrook to my every growing 'to-do' list for next season.
Big Jim 1
New member
They have been recorded there, most recently in 2017. Also at Southwater country park and quarry. If you go again please record using this link https://irecord.org.uk/enter-glow-worm-record
