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17th October Sufolk Gt Cornard roadside |
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Liz Heard
Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Location: South West Status: Offline Points: 1429 |
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is a compost BIN better than a compost HEAP for Slow Worms? and which TYPE is best? |
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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I guess Ben that both are OK for slow worms. I have four dalek type composters and if you open the little door at the base in spring/summer there is always a few there. I've never seen them near the top but a friend has them in her daleks and they are always lying on the top, on the fresh veg peelings etc.
I get the most in my compost heaps. Probably said but I have three - a wooden slatted one, concrete ex-coal bunker and corrugated tin with metal corner posts one. These three are covered in black plastic so they like to bask under that. My daleks tend to have rather compacted contents as they fill up, even though I mix all sorts in, and I think that is why the slowies are only at the base as they don't want to try getting through the mix to get to the top. The contents of the heaps never get so compacted so plenty of wriggle room. I think it's probably a bit like the adverts that say 'given a preference...' and mine are probably spoilt rotten for choice. Less choice and they'd all be in the base of the daleks. |
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Suz
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Any chance of some pictures of the bins Suzy? We have an open compost heap which grass snakes use but though slow-worm are about locally we really never get them in numbers. I was thinking after seeing your recent pictures perhaps setting up a different system would make all the difference.
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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Photos soon...
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Suz
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Liz Heard
Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Location: South West Status: Offline Points: 1429 |
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really appreciate the info/thoughts Suz!
ive surveyed a couple of allotments recently and the "Daleks" therein had Slow Worms. the animals were right at the top of the (full) bins, entwined among the sticks and twigs. since these objects are solid and reach right down to the ground with weight, i suppose the animals must detect the heat source, with mucho resolve burrow underneath the plastic to gain entry, and then make their way up through the mulch? given that they find warmth, food, refuge and partners in such receptacles then, (metallic voice) "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!" seems both inappropriate and unlikely! rather, is there any need for them to ever leave this Slow Worm 'Shangri-La'??? not wishing to prod you but like Gemma, im really looking forward to seeing further pix with a view to an 'update' of my garden planning! thanks, Ben Edited by ben rigsby - 11 Oct 2012 at 5:26pm |
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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Sorry guys for the photo delays. When I've actually been home it has been the monsoon season. Perhaps tomorrow...
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Suz
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AGILIS
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689 |
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I would like to know how the sloworms lift the bin lids off to get in keith
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LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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Well Keith it's like a lot of things e.g. eels moving overland - it happens at night - so we don't see it. Although slow worms are legless lizards, at night their hidden legs emerge and a team of them are able to prise the lids off. The twist off lids are no problem either. To get up to the lids from the base of the daleks they attach suckers to their legs. I believe there is a youtube vid of all this
Slow worms have been seen slithering in underneath the bases, but that is just for wuzzies. |
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Suz
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Liz Heard
Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Location: South West Status: Offline Points: 1429 |
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hey Keith, how come you didnt notice the crocodile in your first pic?
it faces to our right immediately above the viv. you can clearly see its eye, neck and the upper reaches of its snout. |
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