Falmouth Worm Charming Championships 2024

Falmouth Worm Charming Championships is a community worm charming competition at The Dracaena Centre, Falmouth. Bring all the family - there is something for everyone!

Win trophies for the most worms charmed, the most inventive worm charming technique and for the longest worm. Trophies by Artists Rafal Zajko, Thaïs Lenkiewicz and William Darrell.

£5 per team (up to 4 people) to take part.

120 plots available (100 pre booked via Eventbrite. 20 available on the day first come first serve)

L AST YEARS RECORD TO BEAT... 20 WORMS

Worm charming is the act of enticing earthworms to the surface of the earth. As a skill and profession worm charming is now very rare, with the art being passed through generations to ensure that it survives.

Most worm charming methods involve vibrating the soil, which encourages the worms to the surface. In 2008, researchers from Vanderbilt University claimed that the worms surface because the vibrations are similar to those produced by digging moles, which prey on earthworms. Worm charming is a behaviour also observed in animals other than humans, especially among birds. The methods used vary; however, tapping earth with feet to generate vibrations is widespread. One common example is the "Seagull dance".

In most competitions the charmers of the most worms in a set time are declared as the winners. They usually have a plot in which to perform their charming, measuring 3x3m. The current world record was established on June 29, 2009, by 10-year-old Sophie Smith of Willaston, England, who raised 567 worms during Britain's World Worm Charming Championship.

We are passionate about spreading the wonder that is earthworms and this year have partnered with The Soil Association to spread this message. We have a very very strict "CHARM DON'T HARM" policy that disqualifies anyone seen to be mishandling the worms.

Rules:

Each team to operate in a 3x 3 metre plot.

Teams of up to 4 people per plot.

120 plots available

£5 per plot to take part

Each team to bring their own tools for charming.

Duration of competition to be 30 minutes, starting at about 2.30pm.

Vibrations only to be used. Worms may not be dug from the ground. Vibrations only to be used.

No mechanical vibrators - all vibrations must be made by hand.

Nothing toxic is allowed to be used and anyone using a liquid must first take a gulp of the liquid in front of the official judge, the "Worm Master", before using it in the competition.

Any form of acoustic music may be used to charm the worms out of the earth.

Worms to be handled carefully. Incomplete worms won't be counted by the judges.

Each competitor may only collect worms from their own plot.

The competitor who 'charms' the most worms to be the winner.

In the event of a tie, the winner to be decided by a further five minutes of charming.

Charmed worms to be released after the birds have gone to roost on the evening of the event.

This event is part funded by FEAST

Photo credits: Dom Moore, Greg Martin, Izzy De Wattripont and Jim Wileman
Video credit: Rachael Jones