Messages are welcome on any subject relating to Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve; the surrounding area of St George and Crews Hole or any of Bristol's Parks and Green Spaces.
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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 17) |
| Author | Comment |
Andy
 Feb 20, 08 - 10:53 AM |
Slow Worms
I'm sure many of you will remember years ago when the hill was more sparse than today and sliding down it on pieces of cardboard was very popular (and great fun) This meant that the hill was strewn with cardboard. This coupled with the other debris such as corrugated metal made ideal habitats for slow worms as they were often found under debris, gaining heat under the sun-warmed objects rather than basking in the open. I remember in the summer months finding them under around half of the card I lifted. I have discovered from a few sources, namely one of Bill Odies T.V programmes and various websites, which actively encourage the use of corrugated material to create reptile habitats. Obviously the vegetation has increased and therefore offers extra hiding places. I have been searching sporadically for the last few years and noticed they are harder to find. I can't help feeling that there are less slow worms since there is no litter. Does anyone else share this view? |
Rob
Feb 20th, 2008 - 6:40 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Andy, An interesting question - is it that there are less slow-worms or are they just harder to find? If there is no litter do they just hide in the grass during the day instead? As far as I know there has never been any survey carried out of slow-worms on the hill; perhaps we should organise one. Of course cardboard sliding is still popular. |
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Jules
Feb 20th, 2008 - 6:53 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Hi Andy, If you look elsewhere in this forum: "Bracken: Aug 14th" you'll see that the place I come across them most frequently is near the 'grassy' gate on TH road. Maybe, in this area, 'we' should leave some hiding places for them? Currently, cardboard is classed as litter and I'm obliged to remove it... See also "Where to put it?" Aug 9th "Memories of T Hill": June 9th |
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Andy
Feb 21st, 2008 - 10:34 AM |
Re: Slow Worms
It's would be hard to tell whether there are less slow worms or they are harder to find. The only fair way would be to do a survey, then place some corrugated board down and do another survey at a later date. This may be deemed unfair however as now we would know exactly where to find them! Really my point was that sometimes it could be argued that mans actions (even the seemingly thoughtless act of dropping card) can sometimes be beneficial to certain species. In the same way that untidy messy gardens are home to more species, the housemartin nesting in eaves and the urban fox feasting on our discarded food. I understand that the hill needs to be managed and looking at the photo surveys its amazing how the bracken has really flourished. However I cannot see how, by placing some shelter in selected areas, it could not be advantagous to the slow worms. In fact I have designed a fixed hinged device of corugated green plastic that I feel would blend in with the surroundings and could be simply lifted and replaced without disturbing the animals. I think this would be great to give kids a chance of seeing a slow worm. Something which I feel was the best thing about the hill when I was young. Perhaps I am just being over sentimental 
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kite
Feb 21st, 2008 - 10:54 AM |
Re: Slow Worms
Andy, I think this is a fascinating idea. Any chance you could bring a sample along to one of our meetings or a work party? 
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Andy
Feb 21st, 2008 - 4:42 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
No problem. I will find out some more information from The Herpetological Conservation Trust and talk to a friend at the Environment agency who could be helpful. Sounds like it could be quite a fun project if it is possible. 
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Jules
Feb 21st, 2008 - 4:49 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Whilst preparing/clearing the area for our brambleburning this morning we moved an old cooker inside panel and a nice fat slow worm blinked, yawned, (no doubt cursed in slowormese) and slithered off into the Knotweed. The cooker panel was replaced on the edge of the cleared area. And before anyone asks, we always pile up our to be burnings NOT WHERE we are going to burn, just nearby. Don't see why some strategically placed sheets should be taken amiss, may even attract some legged lizards to bask on top. |
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Rob
Feb 21st, 2008 - 10:54 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Andy, I had never heard of the Herpetological Conservation Trust - they have a website at www.herpconstrust.org.uk. The section on reptile habitat maintenance is particularly interesting. I like the idea of your plastic covers, it might be best if we set them up when we have events rather than have them on the hill all the time - so that we can keep an eye on them. I asked Sally Oldfield about corrugated iron etc in general her comment was: "I'm not an expert on slow worms, but as far as I'm aware corrugated iron and the like attracts them as it enables them to get their body termperature up more quickly, but having lots of corrugated iron and cardboard around wouldn't actually increase the slow worm population on Troopers Hill. The number of slow worms would be limited by the availability of food and suitable places to hibernate. When people do habitat enhancement work for slow worms they create mosaics of long grass and scrub, build hibernaculae (out of logs and stones, with earth piled on top) and sometimes create ponds. Corrugated iron tends to be just put down during surveys, to make them easier to find." It seems to me that we have the mosaics of long grass and scrub. It would be worth getting some advice on whether we should build some hibernaculae and if so where. |
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jules
Feb 22nd, 2008 - 2:12 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Give a worm a home. This is all beginning to sound rather grand! Surely a few (emphasised) half sheets of metal, galvanised or whatever, dropped in some out of the way corners may just provide the refuge/solar panels desired without being visually intrusive? On top of the bracken behind the shrubs near gate E? (eco-friendly bracken control, albeit limited) We pick up lots when fly-tip clearing so they'd be free. The cooker panel mentioned previously was half buried and under a load of bramble but still used. Anecdote: We had an old carpet covering part of our allotment (Talbot Rd. pre parks tidying & fencing and £000s spent on herpetological re-location... they're still there!). Always had slow worms under it. Visiting friends called with their young daughters and the carpet was pulled back to display a scene reminiscent of "Indiana Jones". Apparently the younger one still has nightmares... |
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Andy
Feb 22nd, 2008 - 2:16 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Thanks very much for all the replies. It feels like I have really opened a can of (slow) worms here! I have had some interesting replies from The Herpetological Conservation Trust and the question of "less debris = less habitat?" has been copied to various experts and a lively discussion is now raging. When the debate has cooled off. I will correlate all the info/advice and post it. |
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Andy
Feb 27th, 2008 - 4:50 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Well here are the Answers I recieved from the E-mail I sent to the herpetological conservation trust......... I wrote- Hi, I have a question about slow worms. On your site you mention slow worms using discarded litter as a habitat. Is there any evedence to show that in areas where litter has previously provided shelter but since been removed, the slow worm population has declined? I refer to an area in Bristol where I feel this may be the case. Hi Andy, An interesting question but im afraid I cannot answer it. At least I haventt heard of such a study. Have you tried posting an email on RAUK forum? I should imagine your best bet would be through the consultancy industry though. They carry out countless surveys and mitigation projects every year and may well have data on sites steadily depleted of refugia. I'll copy in a couple of folk who may or may not know. I should add, of course, that slow-worms do love very messy untidy places littered with junk and hidey holes, as do all reptiles! Cheers Dr Chris Gleed-Owen I would say that the population would look like it has declined because the detectability of the animals is reduced without surface refugia (debris etc). Relying on Visual surveys of animals in their natural habitat would produce much lower numbers but the underground habitat of the slowworm would still be providing sufficient space for the population. A very small proportion of the population is visible at any time during a survey checking under debris while the majority of the population is hidden away – - A further question would be do debris and other surface refugia in crease a population of slowworms - more habitat etc Jon cranfield |
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Jules
Feb 29th, 2008 - 12:22 AM |
Re: Slow Worms
Whilst I don't think advocating an increase in fly-tipping is advisible, point taken. I have secreted a couple of likely hidey-places (can't spell hibernaculae) and will monitor them as well as the cooker panel that we replaced. Not sure that I totally agree with Sally, a warm happy wirrum seems more likely to beget than a cold miserable one... Singles Bars for slow worms to meet and greet under, yet another first for TH! 
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Liz
Mar 1st, 2008 - 12:09 AM |
Re: Slow Worms
Just a footnote to a very interesting thread.... there are plenty of slow worms in the grounds of the Scout Hut on Fir Tree Lane. |
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Jules
Apr 2nd, 2008 - 4:27 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Have checked hideys (still can't spell hibernaculae) a couple of times and they seem to be working... 
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Jules
Apr 9th, 2008 - 5:54 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
See also next post... The info below is culled from the web-site mentioned above... The Slow-worm is a lizard. It looks like a snake in some respects but the fact that it has eyelids, a flat forked tongue and can drop its tail to escape from a predator gives its true identity away. The Slow-worm is probably the most commonly encountered British reptile. It is often found in gardens and is widespread throughout the British Isles. It is naturally absent from Ireland (those found there, in the area of the Burren, are thought to be introduced). It's appearance is always shiny, the males are a greyish brown, the females brown with dark sides and a thin line down the back. Slow-worms give birth to live young in September. The young are very thin, about 4cm long with black bellies and gold or silver backs with a thin black line down the middle. The Slow-worm can be found in almost any open or semi-open habitat. It likes warmth but instead of basking in the open sun it prefers to hide under a stone, log or piece of discarded rubbish such as a sheet of corrugated iron or plank of wood exposed to the sun. Slow Worms are also keen on compost heaps where they find warmth and plenty of food. They feed on slow moving prey, particularly small slugs. Slow-worms are protected by law in Great Britain against being killed, injured or sold or traded in any way. |
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Jules
Apr 9th, 2008 - 5:57 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Near to the grassy gate (E), one up from the stack, I again came across some SWs this morning. As a result I'm only strimming the area just in front of the gate and keeping the drains clear. There was another nestling in the 'grass' near the stack entrance. until advised otherwise... If the grass is to be cut then it will be cut 'high/long' 
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Jules
Apr 14th, 2008 - 5:40 PM |
Re: Slow Worms
Seems I'll never learn! Lost focus and confused the real reason for doing it (to provide refuge/shelter). Next time I indulge in a bit of wildlife-care I'll keep it to myself and definitely NOT broadcast it in a public forum... 
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