Used sparingly, lights in the garden can enhance its night-time charms, but what about the effects on wildlife?
Suitable for...
Highlighting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants and providing security lighting
When to do it
Brightens up your garden at any time of year - from summer parties to winter viewings.
How to do it
- Lighting in gardens can illuminate particular features such as a tree or pond, create a welcoming place to sit in the evenings and, when combined with a motion sensor, act as security
- Low-voltage, easy-to-install kits can be plugged into a pre-existing mains socket, and usually have smaller light fittings than mains electricity lighting, which is only really necessary for illuminating large gardens or big trees
- A registered electrician must be used for all mains garden installations
Problems
Lights and wildlife
The effect of lighting on wildlife and the environment is often overlooked.
- Night-flying moths navigate by faint light sources, such as the moon, and become disorientated by artificial lights. Bats and owls can also be distracted
- Security lights may temporarily blind certain animals and may even attract them, as appears to be the case with frogs
- Garden birds are disturbed from sleep by sudden lighting and can begin singing before dawn
- Disruption of animals’ breeding cycle is more serious. Garden lighting is thought partly to blame for the decline of glow-worms; these emit low, greenish light to attract mates
- Solar-powered lights emit a very dim light that is unlikely to affect wildlife
Minimising impact
- Lessen the effects of lighting by positioning and aiming lights responsibly, and turn off when not in use
- Hoods can also direct the light downwards to reduce light pollution of the night sky
- Choose low-intensity lighting: solar lighting is cheap, safe and emits a dull glow suitable for garden use