Local light pollution: rivers and wildlife

  

I was asked to speak on Light Pollution and Wildlife at the fourth tranche of  Richmond Biodiversity Action Plan  launched at Hampton Court Palace 29.9.2025. The event, hosted by the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership, celebrated an updated plan, aiming to reverse environmental damage including actions encouraging dark skies, and saw the launch of an Action Plan of that name. The launch also featured inspiring talks, art, and other activities involving community groups, local authorities, and other partners. This leaflet, printed a decade ago, shows Council's intent to educate others on the issues that LP causes.

 

Most of the scientific information delivered in my talk came from commentaries written for the London Naturalist (2006, 2012) updated to include local information on the following headings:

•  Light pollution in London is there more or less?
• Recent policy changes and the launch of initiatives by the Welsh Government;
• How do we manage wildlife corridors for dark/light? 
• Response to light by various organisms: Daphnia, Sea Turtles, & Bats bats-and-lighting
• Cultural responses to light & lighting; city-lightingand-its-effects
• Public pressure v. The Richmond Dark Skies HAP; 
• Managing expectations using ecology services as there is no mitigation for LP.

 

The photo above demonstrates the light attenuation from the Warren Footpath on the right hand side of the Thames, retaining the river as a dark corridor. Whilst Richmond borough attempts to limit the light pollution affecting important habitats,  Kingston continues to receive applications for floodplain developments overshadowing and ultimately increasing the light spillage both on  the Beverley Brook and its habitats motspur-park-gas-holders and the Kingston University's Hogsmill river proposals-for-middle-mill. 

 It is not only light pollution from new developments that threatens the ecological integrity of our river corridors. In recent years—and particularly since the widespread shift from metal-halide to cheaper, higher-intensity LED systems—sports facilities have become a significant and persistent source of night-time illumination. At Kingsmeadow, floodlights have repeatedly been left on throughout the night, and CWFC has already received an enforcement notice from the council for licence breaches. The floodlights impact no less than 3 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation: the Hogsmill river, Hogsmill Sewage Works and the Kingston Cemetery.

Unfortunately, denial has too often been the starting point, leaving residents once again on the defensive. It is barely a year since the issue was first raised at a liaison meeting, yet at a subsequent on-site meeting 13.11.25 there was still no clarity regarding switching-off times. Residents were even asked to send timestamped emails if the lights were observed in the early hours, and I was informed—incorrectly—that the floodlights could not possibly be visible from my property. I have therefore sought formal clarification via Freedom of Information requests. The responses should be illuminating.

see norfolk-light-pollution-conference