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Can anyone help to identify this please

johncleme65johncleme65 Posts: 93
in Problem solving
Hello,
Relaxing in the garden yesterday, suddenly saw this appear, I ask is it dangerous as have 2 small children , it seem quite aggressive 

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It looks like a slow worm. They're harmless 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • CebeCebe Posts: 61
    It looks like a slow worm to me - not dangerous, probably just looking for somewhere cosy to hibernate 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited November 2021
    Lucky lucky you ... it is a slow worm , totally harmless as long as you're not a slug ... a real gardener's friend and a legally Protected Species .... looking for a nice compost heap to hibernate in.

    https://www.arc-trust.org/slow-worm

    Deep envy here  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    How wonderful, for you and your children! I remember we had them in the garden when I was little, but I never actually saw one - had to wait until my 40s for that. I hope it finds somewhere cosy to hibernate.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Oh lucky you,  it's a Slow worm not a worm or snake but a legless lizard and in spiteof the name move quite quickly. They are a protected species, so do not harm it.  It  was probably disturbed and looking for shelter,  and a quiet dry place to hibernate. They like compost heaps, especially if they are dry and warm. It's very much the gardener's friend, so do all you can to keep it on your patch. It will make a great subject for a wildlife lesson for the children. 
    AB Still learning

  • johncleme65johncleme65 Posts: 93
     many thanks to all of you
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Looks like several of us posted at the same time. 
    AB Still learning

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I am lucky in that I have a thriving Slow worm colony in my garden ( West Somerset ) and they breed every year.
    If you have adults of the size in your pic, you will also hopefully have youngsters hiding somewhere.  A beautiful coppery colour with a black line along the side.
    Worth noting that if you don't have a suitable compost heap, a sheet of Butyl, a piece of carpet or even an old door mat can make a reasonable home for them provided it is placed on soil.  
    Be aware too that if they have laid eggs in your compost heap and you then use the compost the following Spring to fill beds or pots, you may find that you have young Slows in there - emptying my dustbin recently which had contained outdoor Cucumbers, I came across 3 young Slow worms which had hatched from eggs previously laid in the compost heap. 
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Thank you for the information philippasmith2. I'd love to have them in my garden.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    That’s a beautiful slow worm. We used to have them in our last garden in Somerset, our children were very young then, and were always thrilled to see them. A great shame we don’t see them here.
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