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Street and garden lighting affecting insect populations

Steph111Steph111 Posts: 22
in The potting shed
I recently read this article about insect populations being negatively impacted by light pollution, particularly from cold-white LED lights, and thought it was worth a share.

https://www.ukri.org/news/led-streetlights-reduce-insect-populations-by-half/

My local council has just invested a lot of money in installing new streetlights but it doesn't look like wildlife has been considered at all really. You tend to see discussions about saving the bees but not so much on other 'less cute' insects, even though they're just as vital. 

In the RHS book 'How can I help hedgehogs?' there are plenty of tips on how you can help wildlife in various ways. It's a really lovely book and certainly made me feel as though there were things I could do locally to help the environment and wildlife. The book suggests down-lit warm-toned lighting if you have to have lights in your garden, preferably with motion sensors or just turning them off when you're not outside. 
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  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I know the subject of LED streetlights has come up on the forum a few times, usually to do with its effect on wildlife rather than insects per se.
    I can't say l've noticed any particular changes in local hedgehog behaviour in the several years that these lights have been installed. They are usually dimmed down around midnight, and in some areas the local council actually switched off some street lights in order to save money.

     https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/artificial-lighting/
  • Steph111Steph111 Posts: 22
    It's good to hear that some councils are dimming or switching them off, even if it's to save money. I raised the impact of streetlights on insects with a councillor and they brought the issue to the attention of a local environmental group who are planning to consult with Manchester University to see what can be done. 
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    Even worse are those house owners who have installed a front door light reacting to movement, and which fills the entire road with light as soon as a mouse, a fox and cats pass that house. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    It's a really important point, Steph. Bats are especially affected by the decline in night flying insects. They aren't very cute but they are quite sweet. I mean, compared to May bugs  :)
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Steph111 said:
    My local council has just invested a lot of money in installing new streetlights but it doesn't look like wildlife has been considered at all really. You tend to see discussions about saving the bees but not so much on other 'less cute' insects, even though they're just as vital.
    It's a very specific study though. The conclusion is that there are a lot less moth caterpillars living directly under street lights but it would be interesting to compare that impact to the reduced light pollution that the new lights offer. For example we know that they're much better for nocturnal wildlife so they may actually increase or aid the adult moth populations and the answer might be to focus on increasing native plants away from street lights to provide the caterpillar habitat. There's also the immense amount of energy saved by using LED lights which reduces pollution and that has to be weighed up too.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I hate the fact that everything is lit up so drastically at night. There's a stupidly bright street light right opposite our place, they never dim any of them, even though we live in a cul-de-sac in a small village.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    If it's shining into your bedroom, you can ask the council to fit a shield which basically guides the light downwards @Slow-worm.
    More information here about other action you can take.
    https://www.nightblight.cpre.org.uk/take-action-about-local-light-pollution#:~:text=If nearby street lighting is,do to minimise the problem.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Thanks @AnniD. It's not shining in the bedroom, but it is irritatingly glarey in summer if we don't shut the curtains. I'll have a look at the link though.
  • Steph111Steph111 Posts: 22
    @Slow-worm We've got a streetlight that shines into our bedroom but our local council doesn't have a mechanism to report light pollution. They've got all other kinds except light. Might be one to raise with the councillor too...

    @raisingirl I love bats! They're cute in their own way  <3

    @wild edges agreed, it's a very specific study and I guess everything we do is a delicate balancing act. I wish more places considered the wide-reaching impact of light pollution though. I lived in the city centre for 10 years and would hear birds singing throughout the night (one of the theories for this was that they're triggered to sing by lights thinking it's dusk/dawn)
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Well I've reported it thanks to @AnniD.
    It illuminates the entire front lawn too, not good for nocturnal wildlife or some plants. 
    I've got very little respect for the council's work around here though - they tend to scalp mile upon mile of wildflower verges in August - short ones which don't obscure or impede anything. 🤬
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