Seething Wells Proposed Lighting Plan: some facts

see post bats-and-lighting.
The lights in London are getting brighter, bucking the trend across counties such as Norfolk and Leicestershire, which have moved to part-night lighting (mainly as a costcutter). This picture clearly shows the darkest areas in London and it is no coincidence that these are the  most productive when it comes to bat foraging activity: London By night André Kuipers ESA/NASA The darker areas are particularly important for bats of the genus Myotis such as the Daubenton's bats roosting at the Filter Beds, a declining species in the London Region (Briggs et al LNHS no. 86 2007).

Although the Filter Beds suffer some light pollution from sources such as streetlights and accent lighting from nearby buildings, this is insufficient to prevent foraging by Daubenton's bats. However the planned lighting programme for the Filter Beds will be excessive with ten different types of lighting shown in this key.

Some of these luminaires are so-called 'accent' lighting (to light features) and are to be place on trees. Some are described as 'water feature' lighting. So totally necessary then.

In fact, there will be ~220 external lighting units: bollards, path lights, accent lights, hand rail lights, tree and floor mounted lights on terraces, balconies and paths. Many of these will be LED lights which can be blue rich, with damaging light scattering effects. 

Not only will this cause problems for bat species. Research expounded by Buglife shows that there has been a 75% decline in moth species in recent years.  Lighting over water inhibits nutrient recycling by daphnia and other insects living in the water column. Inverterbrate populations can be impeded from dispersing when water is lit.

Polarised light created from flat shiny surfaces such as photovoltaic panels, cars, boats and tarmac induces certain insect species to deposit their eggs, which will never realise their potential.

Reflected light from the building surfaces will bounce light around the atmosphere not only causing local pollution but adding to skyglow.

Do you know of anywhere so well illuminated locally? share your thoughts

Comments

  1. Anonymous30 April 2012 at 10:22

    we needto switch the lights out on this one then !

    ReplyDelete

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