Slow-worm
Anguis fragilis
Length: 40-50cm.
Age: Up to 20 years.
Where are they found? Found throughout England.
Status: Protected under 1981 Countryside and wildlife act.
Diet: Slugs, worms, snails, spiders.
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Slow-worms are a legless lizards. They will hibernate throughout the colder months, coming out in Spring as the weather warms up. Slow-worms are ovoviviparous which means they incubate their eggs inside them, where they will hatch and give birth to live young.
How to make your garden slow-worm friendly.
- Log piles create beautiful habitats for invertebrates which are a delicious food source for them.
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- Compost heaps are a nice place for them to shelter. Slow-worms can't regulate their own body heat so they will need a heat source, compost heaps are great for this. As the grass and leaves break down they release heat causing a lovely warm sheltered place for slow-worms.
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- Leave areas of long grass so slow-worms can stay hidden and move around.
Check out the video below for more slow-worm friendly gardening.
Interesting fact
Slow-worms can drop their tails to escape predators. They can then regrow their tail back. HOWEVER this is not something they want to do and their tail never regrows back to its original state.