Slow Worm :-)

Another thing I've noticed, nothing to do with slow worms, and there is no scientific reason I guess, is that in a set of say 5 refuges, snakes tend not to to be under the ones on either end. I am only talking about adders and grass snakes as I don't see smooth snakes but wherever a set might be there are best results under the refuges not on the ends. The distances between the tins will vary slightly but in the region of 5 or 6 metres probably.
Has anyone else noticed this?

This is a view of my three compost heaps. One concrete, one corrugated iron and one open wooden slats. Normally they are all covered in plastic but the wooden one has its plastic removed to heap more vegetation on it. There is a metre of long grass behind them and normally the fronts are obscured by tall comfrey, which has been cut down for the winter. Without exception grass snakes, when present, are always in the tin heap.


This view shows one of my Coroline sheets next to the heaps.



I took these shots at 4.15 yesterday afternoon, temps of 12 deg C all day although sunny. I also lifted the Coroline and found...



This shows the end of my garden which is overshadowed by a large oak. I have a cover here too and it usually has between one and five slowies underneath it. The end of the garden has a banking and then a drop of 12-15ft into a stream. Some gardens don't have this drop, but rather a slope, and this is likely a grass snake highway.

Sadly grass snakes do not breed here in my heaps. I've had various ones over the years, but no luck. This year I had two at once (a first!) so I hope they are spreading the word that it's a good place to be. 

I have good mixes in my heaps and they do get hot. In the photo the wooden slat one is piled up with dry Spanish oats stalks which is useless for a good mix but it is end of garden season stuff and will be spread in the other heaps shortly. We didn't touch the heaps after midsummer, except to add more stuff a few times, so I was hoping for some grass snake babes, but no luck.

wonder if this will be the last reptile sighting of the year, Suzy! depressing thought...but well done on the spot