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Slow worm problem: |
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Robbielab Member Joined: 16 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 26  View other posts by Robbielab |
Posted: 14 May 2008 I have a bit of a dilema. I have just begun doing some work for Mendip Council involving cutting grass around town. There is one particular area, a back alley with plenty of long grass, which is supposed to be strimmed every couple of weeks and several times I have found slow worms here - and almost chopped them to pieces! Infact my collegue today decapitated one of last years hatchlings and felt terrible about it all day. Not good! I was wondering if anyone knows exactly what the laws are about what happens if you find slow worms, (and it is obviously a healthy, breeding population), in areas where work is being done? Do they need to be captured and relocated or should the area be left 'unstrimmed'. Any advice would be much appreciated! Cheers Robbie |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 14 May 2008 Had the same trouble with verge mowing some years back. If its just for 'neatness' and not safety then there is a good case for leaving it be. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 14 May 2008 Compared to the past when hand tools were used it is all too easy to mow and strim large areas very quickly. All too easy also to chop creatures to bits. I expect more escaped in the past when the process was much slower. Suz |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 15 May 2008 Basically if you kill anymore animals you will be potentially committing a criminal offence unless you take reasonable measures to prevent such harm. Once you have killed an animal that's an accident any further injuries or kills this would be intentional and therefore is a breach of the legisation. If you can leave the grass uncut until the late autumn or early winter then you can take the grass down during the least active time of year for slowworms therefore avoiding any harm to the animals The ideal thing would be to leave the grass - after all the slowworm is a national biodiversity action plan species - which the council should follow and leaving the grass to cuts in the late autumn, early spring would hopefully save some money - at least prevent a fine of ú5,000 and a custodial sentence - no one has had that yet but there is always the first eh? Please dont take these comments too seriously it is up to you to decide what is best - relocating them is probably not needed. J Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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AGILIS Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 694  View other posts by AGILIS |
Posted: 15 May 2008 WE HAVE THE SAME PROB HERE WITH OUR TITIVATE IT UP LOT WITH THEIR POWER SCYTHES THEY WONT LET IT STAY LOOKING NATURAL LIKE THIS FOR LONG SO IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE TRANSLOCATED 10 LARGE ONES FROM THIS ALLEY ELSEWHERE, THE ALLEY MAY LOOK TRANQUIL TO AN OUTSIDER BUT ITS HEAVILY USED BY DOGS DRUGGOS FOOTPADS YOU NAME IT WEVE GOT IT HERE BUT THE SLOWORMS ARE NOW ELSEWHERE, THE RIGHT HAND SIDE TAKES THE BRUNT OF THE STRIMMERS THATS WHERE THEY WERE CHOPPED UP THE OTHER YEAR PHOTO WAS TAKEN VERY EARLY MORNING HENCE NICE AND QUIETKEITH .
LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 16 May 2008 Keith, yes eh, sunny summers day 7am. Nothing better Rob RobV |
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axel Member Joined: 16 May 2006 No. of posts: 31  View other posts by axel |
Posted: 21 May 2008 regarding the slow worm / strimming problem, there is a booklet produced by english nature called 'IN151 - Reptiles: guidelines for developers' which can be downloaded from the natural england website http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ This should cover all the legal aspects of doing work which may endanger reptiles. As herpetologic2 states, the council are breaching legislation if they continue to do the strimming. This is of course provided you have informed your superiors so they are aware the slow worms are there. cheers |
- Slow worm problem |
