Although still regarded by some authorities as being both nationally and locally common, surveys on behalf of the Nottinghamshire Glow Worm Survey, have showed this delightful beetle to be in serious decline across its restricted Nottinghamshire range.

The data collected by a number of recorders over the past 12 years, has helped confirm both a decline and a demise in Nottinghamshire's Glow Worm populations. However, getting people to sit up and take notice has proved to be rather difficult and it doesn't help when those very same authorities continue to denounce any existance of a decline. 

Habitat loss through urbanisation and industrial development, the use of pesticides and herbicides in modern farming practices and the increase in light pollution, are all thought to have contributed to the Glow Worm's decline, but none of these factors are unlikely to have been factors where the Glow Worm has traditionally been found in Nottinghamshire. It's never been a widespread beetle and has always been more or less confined to the Sherwood Forest area, where commercial forestry operations and site management have without doubt contributed towards its decline.

Help monitor Glow Worm distribution - contribute your records

Members of the public can contribute to the Nottinghamshire Glow Worm Survey and we welcome any Glow Worm records from within VC56 Nottinghamshire. The easiest way to contribute your records, is by clicking on the form on the right and completing the simple form, which takes a few minutes and helps. Contributions will also appear below.

The form can also be used to send in any old Glow Worm records you may have, as old records are important in helping to determine a more accurate picture of Glow Worm distribution and how it has changed over time. And it is just as useful if we know where Glow Worms are not found, so please remember that negative results from a site are equally as important as positive results and will help our mapping of the Glow Worm's distribution.

Useful Glow Worm links on www.eakringbirds.com

• The Nottinghamshire Glow Worm Survey - About the NGWS and archive of reports and records
• The Glow Worm in Nottinghamshire - A general introduction to Glow Worms in VC56 Nottinghamshire
• Historical records of the Glow Worm in Nottinghamshire - Nottinghamshire's known Glow Worms sites