Biofluorescent Night Walk
The Experience
Join biofluorescence expert David Atthowe for a unique 90-minute walk that will reveal the extraordinary and secretive ways plants and insects communicate with light.
Armed with powerful ultraviolet torches (and safety glasses!) guests on David’s walks can expect to find an astonishing hidden world of bright colours within their first few steps on the farm. As biodiversity hotspot Wild Ken Hill is home to insect and plant species that are hard to find elsewhere, so we’re very excited to see what you’ll discover!
Biofluorescence occurs when an organism absorbs a low wavelength of light from the ultraviolet end of the spectrum that humans can’t see. Some light is reflected back as a different wavelength, often in the visible part of the spectrum that humans can see, so the organism appears to glow. With dark evenings and a hint of spring in the air, early April is a great time for a biofluorescence walk, as hedgerows are poised to explode with growth and put on a fantastic display. Their fresh leaves are jam-packed with chlorophyll, the green compound found in plants and algae which glows bright red under ultraviolet light.
This year David is making time to visit Wild Ken Hill amongst his other walks, talks and writing a book, so booking is limited to one date in April. We hope you can join us!
The distance covered on this walk will not be long – you’ll be busy examining hedgerows and other habitats to find things that glow – perhaps up to 1.5 miles. The ground could be muddy or rutted in places, and there may be a short hill included in the route. We recommend a minimum age of 8 years for this walk. Toilet facilities will be available on arrival.
There will be some short stops along the route and April nights can be very chilly, so please bring clothing appropriate to the weather forecast – warm layers and waterproofs (and a thermos!)
Images courtesy of David Atthowe, revealnature.co.uk
Photos
Other Details
Join biofluorescence expert David Atthowe for a unique 90-minute walk that will reveal the extraordinary and secretive ways plants and insects communicate with light.
