On Tue, 24 May 2005 23:07:53 +0100, Warwick
wrote:

snip

I'm guessing the slow worm is a refugee from there. I'm very pleased to
have it make a home in my garden and will be doing everything to encourage
it to stay (and hopefully bring family). As I don't know if it was alone,
if there is a mate around etc and it is mating season, I won't be stirring
the compost heap too much and I won't be doing the planned clearing of that
corner for the pumpkins. I'm going to have to think a bit about how to
increase the nice places for slow worms while making it a little less
untidy to the eye without disturbing the current cover or making too much
noise. The first priority will be Holly proofing that corner. As there is
only a 3 foot gap between the Kerria and the greenhouse that should be
possible. The slug patrol will now become a delivery service an to
encourage the slugs to not wander back up the garden too far, I'll scatter
slightly gone flower heads and dandelions around the area along with the
buckets and planters that they take refuge under already. I have a couple
of gravel boards going spare and I can lay them flat just above the ground
(resting on small rocks) with planters on top to help things look good and
give the lizards somewhere safe and welcoming.

They love an old bit of carpet!
My colony of slow worms moved in when I started laying out carpet as a
mulch in the veg patch - last summer we counted more than a dozen
adults...and a grass snake.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk