Recently, two retreatants at The Barn witnessed a rare occurrence: a sighting of glow worms amidst the darkness.
It's great news because the UK's population of these illuminating creatures - literally! - is in decline.
Barn Coordinator Claire filmed the footage below.
This enchanting video was captured by retreatants on the Being & Belonging retreat in our The Barn venue - our oldest retreat space and one that's inspired by Buddhist teachings.
Glow worms can be found in areas tucked away from artificial light, but unfortunately there are fewer and fewer of these dark spaces in modern life. Sharpham's dark skies enable ideal glow-worm viewing, however!
Sightings are largely concentrated among grassland and woodland edges during the early months of summer, and these were spotted close to The Barn, in the allotment garden belonging to our rewilding partners Ambios.
They emit a transfixing green-yellow glow at night, earning them the nickname ‘earth-born stars’ by one of Britain's most famous poets.
He recognised the earth-born star, and that which glittered from afar - William Wordsworth
These amazing creatures were also commemorated after World War One for guiding soldiers in the darkness, allowing them to read maps without natural light.
Male glow worms emit only a small amount of light, while the females use bioluminescence to attract a mate - so these creatures in the video are female.
In the right conditions, free of pesticides and light pollution, glow worms can still be spotted and marvelled at throughout the UK - and at Sharpham!
See our 'dark sky' nocturnal nature event Bats & Stargazing here, taking place in September
At Sharpham, we want retreatants to develop a curiosity for and a deeper appreciation of and curiosity for nature. Especially after we've rewilded parts of The Sharpham Estate
We've created where nature can thrive, and the glow worms are examples of the biodiversity boost our rewilding efforts have created.
Catch up with our rewilding news here
When you come on retreat with us, we encourage you to become still and pay attention to the beauty surrounding you, guiding you to become fully present and notice these special moments where the human and natural world intersect.
At Sharpham, there is also the chance to spot many different farmland bird species, including barn owls and red-listed song thrushes, amidst habitats such as wildflower meadows, woodlands, reed-beds and saltmarshes.
At Sharpham, there is also the chance to spot many different farmland bird species, including barn owls and red-listed song thrushes, amidst habitats such as wildflower meadows, woodlands, reed-beds and saltmarshes.
For those people interested in learning more about the natural world and deepening a nature-contemplative practice at the same time, we offer our sessions Awakening Relations.
These are events blending land-based practices, small-group exploration and ecological understanding with an 'embodied remembering of belonging to the land'.
The sessions show how mindfulness can promote a connection with nature. The ability to slow down and notice allows you to become a witness to what the natural world has to offer.
The next Awakening Relations session takes place on Sunday 9 August, and the final one for this year happens on Sunday 27 September. Learn more about them here
If you fancy learning more much about our rewilding initiative, and getting out in nature, we offer a Rewilding Tour on Friday 7 August.
This involves a leisurely 2km walk across parts of our beautiful 550-acre estate, taking in breathtaking views of the Dart Valley.
Don't worry, there'll be plenty of stops as you hear about the journey to turn conventional farmland into a haven for wildlife.
This is a child-friendly walk and kids aged 7-17 go free, with subsidised prices for adults too, thanks to funding from South West Water's Better Futures fund.
We do ask that you do not bring dogs on this walk, as they can be disruptive to any ground-nesting wildlife.
Our Woodland Retreats offer retreatants the chance to spend time in the Great Outdoors, participate in peaceful nature connection and nature-sensing activities that really connect you to the world of wildlife.
You’ll benefit from calming meditation practices daily and you'll have the chance to spend time mindfully in our stunning surroundings within the River Dart Valley.
At the heart of the Sharpham Trust ethos is our desire to build a more mindful, compassionate and environmentally sustainable world.
We connect people with nature and foster mindfulness and well-being through our programme of retreats, mindfulness courses, outdoor learning and the arts.
© 2026 Sharpham Trust | The Sharpham Trust Sharpham House, Ashprington, Totnes, Devon, UK TQ9 7UTReceive regular updates on courses, events and more by subscribing to our newsletter.
