Charity partners with Invertebrate Conjuring Championship
The story sounds like it could be part of a dystopian book. But no. This is the harsh British reality. An environmental charity is calling on people across the UK to 'enchant' creatures from the depths… to count them.
The Soil Association is trying to get a national picture of the worm population, track their decline and determine where they need help most.
During the month of May, the charity is asking people to dance on the ground, wet the ground with water or use vibration to fish out worms from the bowels of the earth.
Using the data collected, experts will create a worm map of the UK to show where the healthiest and most biodiverse soil is. Soil full of worms is an indicator that it is healthy.
Worms are vital to soil. Worm-infested soil is said to be 90% more efficient at absorbing water.
However, due to pesticides, over-drainage and the use of inorganic fertilizers, the worm population appears to have declined. A recent study found that the earthworm population has dropped by a third over the past 25 years.
The Soil Association's head of worms, Alex Burton, said: 'It may seem strange, but dancing on bare soil can help science. Charming worms — It's fun and a little surreal, but scientists and farmers use worm counting to understand soil health. 95% of food production depends on soils, and they contain more carbon than the atmosphere, so it's vital that we know what's going on underground, and worms help us do that. The data we produce for the worm map will help us better understand the health of soils in gardens, allotments and green spaces across the UK. This will show where they need help to rebuild their numbers.”
The charity is partnering with the Falmouth Worm Charming Championships, which will give out awards for the most charmed worms and the most creative ways to 'seduce' them. from the depth. This competition has been held since 1980. The winner, as you might guess, is determined by the number of invertebrates collected.
For example, in 2023, championship participants lured 260 individuals to the surface in half an hour with the help of music and reckless dancing. The world record was set in 2009 by 10-year-old Sophie Smith. The girl lured out as many as 567 worms with the help of forks, which she stuck into the ground, and sticks, with which she knocked on those same forks. This created the vibration necessary to lure out the worms.
Searching for worms can take only half an hour and requires only a small plot of land, so this “work” is very difficult. can be done in gardens, farms or local parks.
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