The Benfield Hill Nature Reserve in East Sussex has been hailed as a 'stronghold' for the near-threatened glow worm. With the summer breeding season in full swing, conservationists have spotted an impressive 60 glowing females on a single evening.
The reserve, Brighton and Hove's oldest local nature reserve, has been managed by a team of volunteers to promote the glow worm population. Some areas of grass are kept longer to allow the females to crawl up the stalks for mating, a technique that conservationists believe is working.
The glow worm population is threatened nationally by loss of habitat, climate change, and light pollution. Conservationists are working hard to protect existing populations, as the insects don't spread far and females have no wings, making reintroduction programs essential.
The South Downs National Park has been working to reintroduce glow worms to areas where they have disappeared, with a recent release of 250 larvae in Hampshire. The park is also considered one of the best places in the region for glow worms due to its dark skies, which are essential for the insects' survival.