A Bug's Life

On Wednesday I saw glowworms! S and J invited a few friends round for delicious gluten free dinner, timed to coincide with peak glowworm and the Wildlife Trust's survey.

After dinner we headed out to East Pit Nature Reserve. I have passed it on my way to work almost daily in the last few years, but had no idea it was there. It was astonishing at night; a near full moon lit the chalk cliffs like a lunar landscape. There were maybe a couple of dozen people there when we were, wandering on their own or with the guide, and every so often there was a bright greenish spot looking entirely like an LED, which as you got closer to it nestled in some plant had little black stripes on. I saw 6-7 glowworms, other people saw up to a dozen, and other years have been better populated, but it was an interesting and unusual nocturnal exploration. I'd like to go back in the daylight, to better see the plants.

Here is a more interesting link which talks about the development of the pit as a nature reserve, and the wild flowers which now grow there including the rare Moon Carrot. Article which contains the words Moon Carrots.

Also I would like to take again the opportunity to say the words Moon Carrot.

Glowworms are nothing like the fireflies I saw in New York back many years ago, they have a steady glow and don't whuff on and off.

Moon Carrot.