Turn Out the Lights, Enjoy the Stars, and Save Our Natural World

Turn Out the Lights, Enjoy the Stars, and Save Our Natural World
Decorative lights can add whimsy and wonder to our backyards—but they come with negative effects on the environment and the wildlife we share it with. rob5taylor/Shutterstock
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Most people love fairy lights. The dainty luminescence with which we festoon our gardens and verandas delivers an air of Santa’s grotto enchantment. The thought of a fancy evening soirée with a glass of fizz—sans garden illumination? The horror of it! Like fireworks, the bright colors delight our senses and take us back to childhood memories of festivals, holidays, and all things exciting.

Growing up, Christmas was the time when it seemed the whole world was covered in them—every house front, every garden, every tree (even deciduous ones!). Now, they seem to be lighting up our neighborhoods every day of the year. Meanwhile, motion sensors on our houses trigger lights strong enough to illuminate an entire football stadium when an utterly terrified nocturnal animal passes by.

 EJ Taylor
 EJ Taylor
Author
EJ Taylor is a UK-based environmental biologist, entomologist, and teacher with over 20 years of experience in working internationally. Ms. Taylor holds a fascination for the natural world and the relationships between species. Of particular interest are the effects of the natural environment on human well-being, mental health, and cognition. When not surrounded by nature, Ms. Taylor can be found creating artwork, cooking, pottering in the vegetable garden, or traveling (sometimes on a classic British motorcycle).
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