Title: Worm Charming at Nantwich. February 2009. Automata. To view a video of the automata working click here.

The World Worm Charming Championships.

The Village of Williston, near Nantwich, Cheshire has been the venue for the annual Worm Charming Championships since 1979. Each competitor is allocated a 3 metre square plot. The duration of the competitions last for 30 minutes, starting at two o’clock in the afternoon. Within the 30 minutes the competitor has to charm as many worms out of the ground as possible. Worms may not be dug from the ground; vibrations are only used. All worms are released back into the ground under the cover of darkness to prevent being eaten by on looking birds.