It's the last (expected) warm dry day of summer (?), so, having not heard a dicky bird from the Kent Wildlife Trust, I made a thorough check of the compost bin. There was no sign of any slow worms, so proceeded to empty it. Usable soil sieved, and spread round the garden. The rest has gone in the council garden waste wheelie bin. Still leaving one compost bin for the slow worms.
@rowlandscastle444 Good bet to leave 1 bin for the Slows - let's hope the new owners appreciate them. You did cross my mind yesterday when I lifted the piece of carpet next to my Compost box - 8 or 9 youngsters underneath. Have a good house move
As the prospective new owners seem to have no interest in gardening I was going to suggest lifting the bin and hoping the slowworms would move on while it's still comparatively mild. It would seem they may have had the same idea. I hate to think what might have happened if the new owners lifted the bin and found them. I doubt they would last long.
When I sold my dad's house I left a full set of notes for the new owners about the details of the house and garden (and a bunch of flowers, wine and my contact details). The garden had been really important to him; it was enriched by the best part of 80 years of leaf litter. If the new owners wanted to concrete it over, that was up to them, but at least they had some info on the history so they could realise what a resource they had on their hands.
I wish I had had some garden and house background notes from the previous owners of my own house. I had no idea what was in the garden and it would have been helpful. Friends have had tea with their new house owners and exchanged contact details and it makes total sense to me to have that option. Too much is done only through agents and the chance to exchange vital informal info is usually lost.
Thank you for your replies. That's a lovely idea, @Fire about leaving notes on the house AND garden. We were going to provide house notes, but I'd assumed the garden would be self explanatory. My wife has just checked the details we provided, and tells me that we didn't say we'd leave either of the compost bins. The one I emptied today was older contents, hence the sieving!! (Bad for my back!!) This one contained the worms and bugs that the slow-worms love. The other one houses hundreds of snails - more potential food. I'm rethinking my plans. There is an area of soil held in place by bricks behind the shed. I know it's a favourite hideaway of the slow-worms too, so perhaps will leave them that. The space backs onto a field behind, with an area of brambles and scrub. Ideal too, for slow-worms.
I have moved house some 20 times over the past 50 years - I have always left notes to new owners re the garden, the area, historical details ( if applicable ) and helpful community aspects. It would seem to be a good idea, particularly if the new house owner is from outside the area and you can only hope that the info you have imparted is useful. Having said that, it doesn't often pay to return to a previous property and note some changes
Yes not a good idea to go back. I went back to a previous house once as they had post for us, even though we had paid for post to be redirected. They had blitzed the front garden and removed all the shrubs, I dread to think what they had done to the back. 😒 As you have open ground to the rear hopefully the slow worms will have an escape route.
The previous house we lived in is only about 500 yards away. I don't have cause to pass it often, but it basically looks unchanged from the front. Looking on Google maps, the back looks identical too.
Once we move, and it will be out of the area, I'll have limited reason to return. I'll meet friends halfway. Or they may prefer to see the new place.
We will endeavour to encourage the wildlife into the garden. Except deer!!
Talking to some of our new neighbours yesterday, they tell me that there ARE slow-worms in the gardens around here, so we must try and create the perfect environment for them in our garden. Hedgehogs too.
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Still leaving one compost bin for the slow worms.
Have a good house move
We were going to provide house notes, but I'd assumed the garden would be self explanatory.
My wife has just checked the details we provided, and tells me that we didn't say we'd leave either of the compost bins. The one I emptied today was older contents, hence the sieving!! (Bad for my back!!)
This one contained the worms and bugs that the slow-worms love.
The other one houses hundreds of snails - more potential food. I'm rethinking my plans. There is an area of soil held in place by bricks behind the shed. I know it's a favourite hideaway of the slow-worms too, so perhaps will leave them that. The space backs onto a field behind, with an area of brambles and scrub. Ideal too, for slow-worms.
It would seem to be a good idea, particularly if the new house owner is from outside the area and you can only hope that the info you have imparted is useful.
Having said that, it doesn't often pay to return to a previous property and note some changes
As you have open ground to the rear hopefully the slow worms will have an escape route.
Once we move, and it will be out of the area, I'll have limited reason to return. I'll meet friends halfway. Or they may prefer to see the new place.
We will endeavour to encourage the wildlife into the garden. Except deer!!