We welcomed John Salisbury from the London Amphibian & Reptile Group, alongside LARG volunteers and visitors from afar a field as Birmingham for a Slow Worm Safari.

By 9:30am it was already hot as we circle Grove Farm’s slow worm (Anguis fragilis) refugia, in search of one of the uk’s protected species of reptile.

🪱 What we found

We found one female slow worm that was gravid (pregnant), and with a tail she had previously shed and regrown. Slow worms shed their tails as a defence mechanism, but can only do this once.

The total was significantly lower than in previous years. As yet, we do not yet know why this is the case. Changing weather patterns may be one factor, as may be numerous large scale fly tipping events that have damaged area of Grove farm, but a single survey cannot tell us the full picture. We will continue monitoring to understanding how Grove Farm’s slow-worm population is doing.

🦎 What you need to know

Slow worms are not worms at all, they are legless lizards. They can live for decades in the wild, needing a mix of shelter, dense vegetation and damp, humid places. Habitat loss is a major threat to all our native species and the slow worm is no different. Our goal as a nation should be to create, connect and support our varied habitat for nature and future generations.

Thank you to John, LARG volunteers, everyone who travelled to join us, and all who continue to stand up for Grove Farm.