Slowworm Conservation and Welfare in the UK

The slowworm is Britain's only legless lizard, legally protected but frequently mistaken for a snake and persecuted, with habitat loss posing increasing pressure on populations.

Key Facts

Slowworms are legless lizards, not snakes - they have eyelids, a notched tongue, and can shed their tail
They are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the UK
Slowworms are particularly abundant in garden habitats with compost heaps and south-facing banks
They prey mainly on slugs, making them highly beneficial to gardeners
Cat predation is a significant cause of slowworm mortality in suburban areas
Development sites must survey for slowworms before work begins under environmental protection law

Welfare Considerations

Slowworms suffer from accidental killing by gardeners who mistake them for snakes, deliberate persecution, and habitat loss. Strimming during the warmer months injures and kills slowworms resting in long grass. Development without proper translocation causes mass mortality. Their slow reproduction and small home ranges make population recovery from local losses slow.

What You Can Do

Install a compost heap or log pile to provide slowworm habitat in your garden
Avoid strimming in late spring and summer without checking for reptiles first
Keep cats indoors during the reptile active season where possible
Report slowworm sightings to local wildlife recording groups to support population monitoring
Oppose development proposals that lack adequate reptile surveys and translocation plans