h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I found one of these in my garden once - it was in a bag of seed compost. After quickly checking online to see if it was friend or foe (first time I'd seen one), I moved it to the compost heap. It would be warm there, with plenty of food.

I still regard it as the top moment of my wildlife gardening, and it was a couple of years ago now.

Hi Mina,

hen we first moved into our present house we used to find loads of them. But, as I said, in my article, they get predated by our 3 cats. We scarcely ever see one now. This was a major incentive for me to write the article, as I would like to make my garden =more slow-worm- friendly.

I don't get to spend as much time in my garden now that I have a full time job and a long commute. There aren't many cats around here, my local community seem to have dogs, but annoyingly a neighbour got one recently. She claims it doesn't leave the garden, but I found a bunch of feathers in the garden at the weekend that looked a bit suspicious.

how interesting!

Thanks for writing this article BigAl

I grew up in a small village, surrounded by fields, with lizards, slow-woms and adders and caught many slow-worms and lizards

They're hard to find where I live now, or maybe becuse I didn't grow up here, I don't know the best places to look for them

A couple of weeks ago, I was out on a country cycle ride with my partner, we were stopping, and lifting stones, looking for slow-worms, when I saw my first baby slow-worm...I'd seen and caught many adults, but not babies. it moved so quickly, I only caught a glimpse of it.

Lucky you to find one in your garden Mina It's been a few years since I've held one, and had it twist and turn between my fingers. I did manage to catch a few, a few years back, to show to my son, who for some strange reason, is afraid of snakes. I thought if I encouraged him to hold a 'snake like' slow-worm, it would help him to overcome his fear, but it didn't work.

BigAl, I've just added a paragraph to my space, 'Memories of my childhood' about slow-worms, is it ok with you if I add the link to your entry?

Emmily

Glad you liked it Emilly; I feel homnoured that you wish to create a link from your Space. Please feel free.

It's done, BigAl

Emmily