As a child, I knew at least a dozen spots where slowworms would be nesting, and I took great joy in collecting, feeding and harvesting these wonderful creatures. At times I could house up to 50 slowworms in one of my expertly devised habitats, safe in the knowledge they were protected from cats, foxes and other predators (though I now appreciate this was not in the best interests of nature's cycle). Somewhere in my loft, I have hundreds of skins, tails and notebooks containing data collected on each creature, such was my love for the slowworm. And now, for the best, they are a protected species. It is illegal to kill, sell or injure a slowworm, and they have been granted protected status by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Did you used to collect slowworms? Do you know of any existing slowworm nests? please log in to view this image
Cheers, my friend. I may start a thread on newting and sticklebacking. The slowworm is a glorious creature and offers hours of rewarding research and enjoyment. But you must literally tread carefully when investigating nests.
interestingly, the slow worm is more lizard than it is snake, as is my understanding on these fascinating creatures
Slowworms can be distinguished from snakes by several features: 1 ) Their eyelids, which snakes lack entirely. Slowworms' eyelids can blink. 2 ) Their small ear openings, which can be seen externally. Snakes on the other hand have no ears at all !!! 3 )Their tongues are notched in the centre, unlike a snake's fork. 4 ) Many species also feature vestigial limbs, in the form of scaly flaps. 5 ) Slowworms can shed their tail to distract a pursuing enemy, much like a lizard. Snakes can not do that !! The slowworm is, in essence, a legless lizard.
Although it is illegal to capture and sell slowworms, there is no real law against creating a habitat for them. You can do this in your own garden space by placing a decent sized piece of wood, corrugated plastic or sheet metal down onto damp, shaded earth. In time, the cover will attract woodlice, beetles and slugs, and this veritable banquet will draw in the slowworms. Not only will you enjoy the nest and help protect a species, the slowworms will keep the slugs off your bedding shrubs.
