Sloworms

GreenFly_2

I've recently taken over an allotment plot which wasn't used for a few years and on the plot is a large colony of sloworms. I want to encourage the sloworms as I hear they are good natural predators to slugs and snails. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of how to maintain their plot without damaging the environment of the sloworms.

tim_n

not much - they like undisturbed warm places. A good hot compost bin nearby may make them relocate but they like long grass and plenty of hiding places.

foxgloves

I think i read somewhere that they like hiding out under corrugated iron, I suppose because it gets warm in the sun. My Mum had them in her compost heap tho' so far, i've never seen any in ours. I'd love to have them, as we garden for wildlife.

Zanderman

I used to have lots of slow-worms when I lived in the Stroud valleys - they seemed to thrive in the very stony landscape - plenty of places to hide and stay warm. I've had none since I've moved to flatter, clayey areas.

But here's a tip - as a previous poster has said, corrugated iron is good, as is a compost heap - so try mixing the two. I always had some under an old metal wheelbarrow I kept upturned on a pile of compost - they became quite a conversation piece for visitors - they would slide away, annoyed with the disturbance if you lifted the barrow, but were always back in an hour of two. So, a few sheets of metal, laid on top of a shallow compost pile, left largely undisturbed, should do the trick. South-facing helps too.

BTW remember that slow-worms, like all British reptiles, are protected by the 1981 Wildlife Act. They only protected partially - it's an offence to "intentionally kill, injure, or sell" them. Which means that disturbing them is ok (unlike bats and great crested newts, where disturbing them is also an offence) so you don't need to worry about that bit.

GreenFly_2

Thanks all for the advice, I have some corrugated iron sheets on the plot that I think will do the trick.

Thanks again:)

214jay

Hi Greenfly

Another option would be to collect wood pieces and bricks (or rubble) and create a log/rubble pile. this provides an excellent habitat for sloworms and will also provided excellent habitat for other interesting wildlife species.

Good luck with the allotment!