The slow worm that isn’t a worm …

Despite appearances, the slow worm isn’t a worm nor a snake – it’s actually a legless lizard! Look out for it basking in the sun on heathlands and grasslands, or even in the garden, where it favours compost heaps. It has a smooth, glossy, grey or brown cylindrical body and a flat, forked tongue. When attacked it will shed its tail which will carry on moving in order to distract the predator. Ron Allen, one of our members, found this recently under a birch log on the Heath.