Young conservation scientists from the Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers Phoenix Group joined
Jonathan Taylor of OPAL(Open Air Laboratories) Northwest to complete an earthworm and soil survey.

The fieldwork results will be fed in to a national survey that hopes to gather information on earthworm populations across the country. Earthworms are sensitive to lots of environmental factors - hopefully the final results will provide information on whether different species of earthworm prefer different soil types.

There are 26 species of earthworm, 12 of which are widespread, in the UK. Specimens identified as part of the survey at Lindow Common included the Lob worm (our largest British earthworm) and the Blackheaded worm.

To get involved and complete an earthworm and
soil survey of your own visit the
OPAL website www.opalexplorenature.org.uk

"...and some of the worms we caught were this big!" (Not really...)