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So slow worms climb hedges - Iom amazed: |
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Shawit Member Joined: 08 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 7  View other posts by Shawit |
Posted: 10 Oct 2010 Absolutely horrified today at killing an adult female slow worm in the garden. I cut the longer grass I leave at the edges of the lawn with wallpaper scissors to avoid killing the frogs, newts and slowworms in our garden and am as careful as i can be. The slowworm was 5 foot off the ground in the top of an ivy hedge that i was cutting with an electric hedge cutter. Sadly, I didn't react quickly enough. My sister in law works for a charity that gives help to people who perhaps need help managing their homes. She has told me before about an old lady who to her neighbour's annoyance won't allow her hedges to be maintained as she claimed the slowworms climb up into them. I dismissed this - I wish I hadn't. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 11 Oct 2010 This isn't something I've ever observed though suspect that it is a case of the slow worms seeking out a good basking position when the ground level is shaded. Would be wonderful to see a photographs of this behaviour. I've often seen snakes climb low bushes to bask and also to forage. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Mark_b Senior Member Joined: 26 Jun 2008 No. of posts: 79 View other posts by Mark_b |
Posted: 11 Oct 2010 This reminded me of some photographs I saw on the Wild About Britain Forum. This is what the user said... "Slow-worm - Anguis fragilis - have been appearing in the hedge close to our conservatory glass at about a height of 1m. for the past four years, always in the same pane of glass. They are usually seen fom early to mid March until the autumn" I uploaded the photos using the forum but I cant get them to appear or even become clickable, so for now copy and paste the links to view Pictures now added - Chris, Admin     Amazing shots! 
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ben rigsby Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 337 View other posts by ben rigsby |
Posted: 11 Oct 2010 hi gemma, my STEEP HOLM FIELD REPORT topic includes a pic of slow-worms basking under a tin on top of a bushell of twigs 2' off the ground. which is a similar scenario to shawits in a sense. i suppose. they had to climb there anyway. sorry to hear about your slowie shawit. dont feel bad though- it was an accident. weve all done similar (or worse). who woulda thought youd find AF there? youll know next time though eh? ben Diversity. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 12 Oct 2010 Thanks for posting the picks Mark_B, it appears to be a relatively common behaviour. Perhaps I better spend more time during surveys looking up as well as down! Thanks Ben, I'll find the thread and have a good read. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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ben rigsby Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 337 View other posts by ben rigsby |
Posted: 12 Oct 2010 wow! thanks for the pix mark and chris (and WOB "user"). i cant be sure but the hedge looks like common box (buxus sempervirens). if thats the case then its density as garden hedging probably makes for an easier climb for AF in this case??? hard to imagine AF doing such an edmund hilary in cypress anyhow. looks like the slowies are taking advantage of the glass for TR. really interesting post all! 
is that a wood mouse (apodemus sylvaticus) curled up beside the slowies in the last pic? incredible. 
ben Diversity. |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 12 Oct 2010 The hedge I think is lonicera nitida which is a commonly grown hedging/topiary shrub which can be golden coloured as well. It too is very dense like box. Suz |
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ben rigsby Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 337 View other posts by ben rigsby |
Posted: 14 Oct 2010 thanks suz. thats one for me to look up! ben Diversity. |
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Jonathan Senior Member Joined: 08 Sep 2009 No. of posts: 68 View other posts by Jonathan |
Posted: 16 Oct 2010 People!!! I'm amazed at this thread and your reaction to it. Most if not all of my slow-worm sightings if not under refugia are on top of dense gorse or heather. As soon as they see you they freeze and if aproached will drop. The heather is usually very very thick and found between my usually open adder areas, but they are always there if you look for them.. "England Expects" |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 17 Oct 2010 Yep I guess put like that, most of my visual encounters are on the tops of heather or bracken piles - but a garden hedge.. guess I had just never thought about it. I've seen grass snakes coiled up at the top of those six foot fencing boards though and our common lizards in the garden climb up to the top of them most days. I'll have to start inspecting the privet at the end of the garden for slow-worms. 
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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ben rigsby Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 337 View other posts by ben rigsby |
Posted: 17 Oct 2010 jonathon- large vertical panes of glass beside 5' garden hedging are rather uncommon on heathland though wouldnt you say?
its still a very interesting post from a behaviour point of view. regards, ben Diversity. |
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Shawit Member Joined: 08 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 7 View other posts by Shawit |
Posted: 17 Oct 2010 Today was the first time I've been at home in the morning since last Sunday's carnage. The six foot stretch of hedge the slow worm was on is the only spot in direct sunlight at 10.15 now that the sun is getting lower in the sky.
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 Well if nothing else it's a new party trick to add to the repertoire I guess. I use to think being able to catch lizards off the top of refugia was impressive but to spot the right bit of a hedge and pull a slow worm out would surprise a few people. Don't feel bad about it Shawit, it would never have occurred to me that a slow worm would be up in a garden hedge. Sad as it is I'm sure your experience has enlightened many of us. I'll certainly not be taking the hedge trimmer to the privet from now on when it's the only part of the garden in sun. It is horrible when these things happen but I guess we all learn from these experiences. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
- So slow worms climb hedges - Iom amazed |