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GARDENER’S FRIEND: The slowworm, which feeds by night on invertebrates such
as slugs and snails. |  | | •
COMPANION slowworms. |  | |
• Around ten slow worms mass under roofing felt on a garden hutch. |  | | •
An Adder. |
Nature's charmsNATURE
NOTES BY STEWART BEER Email: stewart.naturalist@btinternet.com
OUR six species of reptile comprise a trio each of lizard and snake. The common
or viviparous lizard, the (legless) slowworm and the rare sand lizard represent
the former and the latter are the piosonous adder or viper, the harmless grass
snake and rare smooth snake.
On March 26, armed with my camera, I set
myself the task of photographing one or other of our native snakes. Well I didn't
find the handsome grass snake which I know frequents a certain hedgebank not far
from my home. After trying another area in the parish, but again without success,
I elected to cycle into Torrington and explore the Commons there. And here it
was I found my first adder of the young year, basking - though partially screened
by herbage - in the afternoon sun.
Since then I have continued to register
sightings of reptiles in a variety of natural habitats. However, the surprise
of the year thus far was the ‘Hydra's Heads’ vision I confronted in
a garden not far from the centre of Barnstaple. Here, on the lid of a ferret-tenanted
wooden hutch, under a double layer of roofing felt, a mass of slowworms enjoyed
the warmth pervading their dark sanctuary. It was difficult to count the tangle
of individuals, but certainly upwards of ten smooth and shiny grey/brown adults
with, in addition, two or three small bronze dark-lined youngsters born in the
previous August or September.
The discovery was also surprising because
the hutch, built on tall supports, was well above ground-level.
The ivy-covered
fencing panel directly behind the hutch must surely assist the slowworms in their
climb to and from this wacky meeting-place?
In boyhood I sought slowworms
in a variety of locations, such as under galvanised corrugated sheets lying in
farmyard or field and fallen headstones in the village churchyard, where they
were most often found in twos and threes, and in the present day I have found
such numbers also in compost heaps - but never have I found such a quantity drawn
together as captured on this occasion.
The slowworm isn't particularly
slow! The word derives from the Old English Sla wyrm meaning 'worm-snake', but
all the same does not move as swiftly as the snakes.
The slowworm is easily
distinguished from a snake because of a regular-diameter head and body (without
a narrowing behind the head) and visible eyelids that flicker.
Just like
the four-legged lizard, the slowworm too is able to shed its tail if a predator
such as a cat, bird of prey or snake grips that end. Feeding by night on a number
of invertebrates like slugs and snails, it is the gardeners' friend. Under UK
legislation the slowworm is protected against killing, injuring and sale.
Contact
Stewart Beer at: stewart.naturalist@btinternet.com
•
Stewart’s anthology An Exaltation of Skylarks, now with four
colour plates added, is published by SMH Books ISBN 0 9512619 7 5. It can be ordered
from all good bookshops.
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