to think slow worms are lovley

[suzziearoundtheworld]

I have a lot of them in my garden, I've left parts overgrown for them and have made a great deal of effort to stop cats coming in. But no one else seems to like them, almost every friend is shit scared of these lovely things. Its such a shame they are native and at risk

Saw them on Google. How sweet! I want slow worm

Yep, I've got lots of them on my allotment. I've got a rigid plastic sheet thing that I use for walking / kneeling on when it gets muddy, but I've left it on a patch of grass the last few months and I go up there most days lift it up and count them, there are usually at least half a dozen, both sexes and everything from fully grown to tiny little ones. Get them in the compost bin too.

I read once they're more common in the south (used to see them a lot in Hampshire) is it something to do with the soil?

www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/slow-worm

'Despite their name and appearance, slow-worms are neither worms nor snakes, but are in fact lizards - they're given away by their ability to shed their tails and blink with their eyelids. They can be found in heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides: anywhere they can find invertebrates to eat and a sunny patch in which to sunbathe. They are often found in mature gardens and allotments, where they like hunting around the compost heap. However, if you have a cat, you are unlikely to find them in your garden as cats predate them. Like other reptiles, slow-worms hibernate, usually from October to March.'

I'm in Hampshire.

I had never heard of Glis Glis til recently talking of wildlife nobody has heard of. DB had some in his roof.

Used to see them loads on St Catherine's Hill in Winchester whoknows. The ones on your picture are beautiful!

We get them in our compost heap too. Lovely things!

Oh i love them, sadly we dont have any in oir garden, always in the look out for them or lizards, but sadly not seen any yet, we do have a freindly grass snake though!

Thank you. I've got a few videos of them slithering away too, but you can't put videos on MN.

Oh I love slow worms. Had one in my last rented place, had to stop my idiot of a housemate putting a spade through him as she swore it was a poisonous snake. Needless to say we don't live together anymore and I miss sam the slow worm more than her

I really want another can you encourage them into a garden?

I love them! I've put some squares of corrugated iron round the garden in the hope of enticing some to the garden, but no luck as yet. Do have a newt and frogs in the pond though!

Lucky you.

I hate you

We have them in the garden, the toddler loves them.

We also get them in our garden and I avoid them like the plaque !

They're ace. One made its way into the house last year. Dog was totally oblivious, I spotted it under the dining table. No cats here so obviously curious!

There was a grass snake in the garden this morning [proud] scared me for a moment though!!

When I was at Uni in Wales our cat used to bring them in regularly.. also sporting the waving moustache However he never knew what to DO with them so would proudly present them, then run off!

Our welsh cottage backgarden was a wilderness so we had LOTS. I love them!

I've never seen a slow worm or grass snake in the garden.

DS was really excited at looking for snakes when we go on holiday and he has seen four at the lake where he fishes...He stepped over the last one, but they usually swim past him

Oh my .........! How big are they? They look massive. Please don't tell me they live anywhere near me :(

Only ever seen one, on a dusty village street, 1976. Beautiful.

We get loads of them here (Devon). Nothing worse than wondering 'what's that bit of electrical flex?' As you pick it up off the kitchen work surface then realising when it's right up to your face that it's a piece of slow worm. Bleurgh. Bloody cats.

Faints at the thought of finding a snake in my garden !

I live in Yorkshire and I've never seen one

Yanbu - they're lovely things. I've never seen one here (SE) but we did see one (well a snake like thing, anyway) when holidaying up in t'Yorkshire moors.

They're not very big, a full grown one is about 1/2" in diameter and maybe 12" long. The ones in my photo are probably 1/4" by 4". They have a beautiful pearly sheen to their skin.

They are warm and dry, you can gently stroke them. Although they do slither away pretty quickly.