Slow Worms

[citychick]

Hi

I hope I am posting this in the correct area.

We are lucky enough to get Slow worms in our garden. Is there anything we can do to make a little habitat for them..?

Thanks

Lauren

[Dan Salter]

Hiya

Lucky you eh (we have them too!)

The simplest thing you can do if you have space is leave an area of uncut longer grass....and maybe start an 'open' compost heap?...slowworms love a compost heap.

Simpler still, in an area of longer grass place a largish square (1ft or more) of either thick black roofing felt/tar/roll, or a sheet of corrugated iron or even a large square of old carpet...the worms will live or at least get warm under this or on top of it basking in the sun. This also makes a good way of observing them as you can gently lift the square and have a look, careful not to harm or disturb them though as they are legally protected.

lastly...and ideally, you can build a hibernaculum (google it)...which in basic terms is a hole dug and filled with logs, rocks etc...then piled up on top and maybe covered with earth....there will be examples and diagrams online.


Hope this helps?

[Dave66]

Hi Lauren

We have sloworms in our garden too. They live in the dry stone wall which has been there for a couple of hundred years so I guess something like that will keep them happy. I let the grass grow next to the wall so they can sunbathe in relative safety. There great for keeping the slugs down by the way.

Good luck

Dave.

[yorky]

We have slow worms and grass snakes occasionally and we maintain a log pile and an open compost bin as a refuge for them.
Our biggest problem is predation by the dreaded moggies with which we get inundated despite having defences around the garden that make it look like a maximum security prison!