Turn the Worm!

'DANCE FOR WORMS' TO ASSESS SOIL HEALTH

Our soils are living ecosystems, essential for sustaining life and promoting the health of plants, animals, and humans as well as purifying the air and water. Earthworm populations, so vital to our soils are thought to have declined by a third over the past 25 years, but UK charity, The Soil Association are inviting people to count their numbers to contribute to a nationwide worm map to assess them and see where they both thrive and need the help the most.

Throughout May, the charity is calling on people to 'charm' worms to the surface by dancing on the soil, using the vibrations of a garden fork or sprinkling the earth with water. Whilst this could be a fun May half-term holiday activity, it should appeal to people of all ages!

The Soil Association's Head of Worms, Alex Burton, said: "It might sound wacky but dancing on the bare earth can help with science. Worm charming is fun and a little surreal, but scientists and farmers use worm counts to understand soil health. We depend on soils for 95% of our food production, and they hold more carbon than the atmosphere, so it is crucial for us to know what's going on under the ground and worms help to tell us that."

"The data we get for the worm map will help us build a better understanding of the health of soils in gardens, allotments and green spaces across the UK. This will show where they need help to restore their numbers. Worms are in our news, films and our gardens, where children love uncovering them. We're calling for people to become citizen scientists for our valuable pals, and if they don't find as many as they were expecting, we have plenty of advice to help them improve the soil."

For more information and to take part you can download the Worm Hunt Guide HERE.