Slow Worm

[Pythia]

Here's a couple of pics of a lovely Slow Worm I found in my garden 2 years ago. Judging by his size he was quite a young one. We're very lucky as we get quite a lot of them coming into the garden. They make a meal of the many (thousands) of slugs we have. The previous tenants in our house didn't bother doing anything with the garden for over 30 years We've been fighting a battle with the weeds, slugs and snails for the past 8 years. The Slow Worms, toads and the occasional Hedgehog do a great job in keeping these pests down

(Fingers crossed I get this right...)

[kielder]

Thanks for putting that up, great to see one so close, as I never have before!

[Pythia]

We get a lot of them coming into our back garden as our house backs on to woodland. If we are burning any garden rubbish, we use an incinerator bin and are very careful as the Slow Worms are often hiding in the bottom of the pile. That's how we found that little chap.

We also have an abundance of grey squirrels who entertain us with their antics most mornings The youngsters are funny to watch, chasing each other

[Bub-les]

good to see you've managed the photos they're good too.
I've never seen one. There are supposed to be none here but I believe there is a colony on the Island having been released by someone. How they're doing I don't know. Anyway you are fortunate to have them in your garden. We don't have squirrels either!
Barbara

[tufftie]

I used to have lots of Slow Worms and squirrels in my old garden..which backed onto woodland too They really do help to keep the pests down and seem to relish slugs (yum, yum! - slug relish..now that's a thought!). They always used to be under the corrugated iron that I put down - not very attractive but worth it if you want to see reptiles

Not seen any Slow Worms in my new garden but have got squirrels

[vole-woman]

You lucky thing! I'd love to have some reptiles in my garden.

[demicav]

Nice pics there.

[lizard orchid]

Good old Slow Worm. My favourite reptile. I have a good breeding population now in the garden originally from a few individuals saved from the housing development 11 years ago. I did use corrigated iron but found if not carefully put back and the Slow Worm moved the animal could get crushed so I now used cut up roofing felt. The other evening there was six adults and ten juvenilles. They suit my wild garden well even though my cheeky Uncle says he has the naparm ready.

Brian Laney Northants County Recorder for Reptiles and Amphibians