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RAUK - Archived Forum - Slow worm problem

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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
Robbielab39582.6551273148
Robbie
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'
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
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
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 . AGILIS39583.4240162037
   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
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
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

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