Wildlife

Slow Worm Welfare and Habitat Protection

Slow worms — legless lizards, not snakes — face habitat loss and persecution despite being harmless and ecologically valuable.

Key Facts

Slow worms are legless lizards, not snakes, and are wholly protected in the UK
They can live over 30 years in the wild
Gardens with compost heaps, log piles, and long grass provide vital slow worm habitat
Cats kill significant numbers of slow worms through predation
Slow worms are important controllers of slugs and other garden invertebrates

Welfare Considerations

Slow worms are frequently killed by people who mistake them for snakes, despite being completely harmless and legally protected. They suffer from garden management practices that remove refugia: decking removal, compost heap disturbance, and strimming of long grass. Cat predation also takes a toll. Creating wildlife-friendly garden habitats directly benefits slow worms and the broader invertebrate communities they depend on.

What You Can Do

Create compost heaps, log piles, and long grass areas in gardens
Keep cats indoors during dawn and dusk when slow worms are active
Never kill slow worms and report any seen to local wildlife groups
Advocate for wildlife-friendly garden design in local community spaces
Learn to identify slow worms and share this knowledge with children