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Moving compost heap and slow worms

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HollyFVivian View Drop Down
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Joined: 27 Jul 2014
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    Posted: 27 Jul 2014 at 11:35am
We have several slow worms living in our garden compost heap which we are delighted about. Unfortunately we need to move the compost heap about 5 metres up the garden and we are unsure of a) the best way to do this in the safest way for the slow worms and b) the best time of year to attempt it.

Any suggestions please.
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will View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 2014 at 9:09pm
well done on your slowworms and also on being so concerned about their welfare.  I would do it sooner rather than later as you don't want to be disturbing any if they choose to overwinter in it or under it.  Also it will be much harder to find the tiny newborns which will arrive from mid August onwards.  As they don't lay eggs you don't have to worry about this, although if it were used by grass snakes then you would need to leave it til later on in the year.  If you can take it apart by hand then of course that removes any danger of spearing one with a fork or chopping it up with a spade.  Avoid grabbing them as you may grasp the tail and of course it will break off.  Keep any slowworms temporarily in a bucket / tub with some grass in it and release back into the relocated compost heap = happy rehomed slowworms.  Of course if the heap is enormous then these words of advice may not be all that helpful, but I hope they are - good luck!
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HollyFVivian View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HollyFVivian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 2014 at 6:37am
Thank you Will. We'll get on to it in the next few days, it's one of those council-provided green compost bins and only half-full. We try to make our garden as wildlife-friendly as possible but it seems particularly suited to amphibians and reptiles even though it's not very big.
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will View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 2014 at 2:00pm
no problem - good luck with it!
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