Slow-worms in the compost…
What a surprise on Saturday when I lifted the cover off the compost bin, a whole family of Slow-worms (Anguis fragilis) ! These reptiles are protected under the law because they are quite rare.
They look like snakes but are in fact lizards who have evolved to lose their legs. They prefer to live just under the surface of the soil but at the allotment I usually find them under plastic sheeting or under the cover of the compost bin. They like to live in the compost bin because there are plenty of slugs there too, that they can predate. You can see why any gardener would welcome them because of what they prefer to eat.
It is an offence to disturb, move or harm these fellas, although I can’t imagine why anyone would want to.