Corrugated Sheeting for Slow Worms

citychick · #1 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 02:38 PM

Hi There,

I want to get some corrugated sheeting to situate in a sunny spot of my garden for Slow Worms. How big a piece do I need? They sell it by the foot and its 2.5ft wide.

Thanks
Lauren

Kleftiwallah · #2 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 02:41 PM

2 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot seems a good size. Saw my first naterjack toad beneath a bit of tin below Helvellyn.

Cheers, Tony.

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 03:13 PM

Yes as long as its not really small then it shouldnt matter, just depends on how much room you have. Also do you have suitable habitat in and around the garden? do you have a local population?

Adam Cheeseman · #4 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 05:01 PM

It is recommended that if you get reptiles and amphibians underneath the sheets you should move them or encourage them to move so that they don't get trapped under the tin and die when you replace the tin.
Apparently this is quite conmon on surveys.

Jim Ford · #5 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 06:14 PM

Doesn't have to be corrugated iron. I've seen bits of lino and roofing felt used.

Jim

turkeyneck · #6 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 06:24 PM

Be careful about cats though. If they find out where they are, they'll be gone in seconds

faz · #7 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 06:36 PM

if you really lucky depending on where you live may find the odd adder as well

rogpow · #8 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Doesn't have to be corrugated iron. I've seen bits of lino and roofing felt used.

Jim

Spot on, Jim. I use roofing felt (can't seem to get hold of corrugated iron in my area) and it works a treat for slow worms.

tom00_uk · #9 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 08:35 PM

car panels etc work just as well,

go on freecycle and get some ones old bits, there's no point getting new sheets for full retail price when often people will be removing aged ones

The Woodman · #10 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kleftiwallah

2 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot seems a good size. Saw my first naterjack toad beneath a bit of tin below Helvellyn.

Cheers, Tony.

I'm intrigued Tony. Can you say when you saw it and approximately where?

As for suitable refugia bitumen backed carpet tiles can be productive but I've recently come across a roofing material and have got a load of good sized offcuts from a local shed manufacturer. The stuff's called Onduline and is a bitumen based coloured corrugated material much lighter than zinc coated steel and sawable too. No sharp edges either.

I'm looking forward to using it next season.