Wildlife

Slow Worm Conservation and Garden Welfare

Slow worms are legless lizards commonly found in gardens, where they face threats from cat predation, glass injuries, and lawnmowers.

Key Facts

Slow worms are not snakes but legless lizards that can live over 30 years
They are entirely harmless and feed on slugs, making them beneficial in gardens
Cat predation is a major mortality source in suburban slow worm populations
Compost heaps and corrugated iron refugia are important microhabitats

Welfare Considerations

Slow worms are frequently injured by garden machinery, especially strimmers and rotovators. Cat predation causes significant mortality. Creating refugia and checking compost heaps before turning reduces direct welfare harms.

What You Can Do

Create slow worm refugia using corrugated iron or roof tiles in sunny garden spots
Avoid using strimmers near potential slow worm habitats
Keep cats indoors during peak reptile activity in spring and autumn