30 Wild Marlow Days - Day 19

• Despite it's name and appearance Slow Worms are neither worms or snakes, but in fact legless lizards and are completely harmless. They are a gardeners friend as they can eat up to 20 slugs in as many minutes!

  Slow worms like humid conditions and emerge from their hiding places at dusk or after rain to hunt for food. They spend the winter hibernating under piles of leaves, in compost heaps or within tree roots and log piles, so you may be lucky enough to find them in your garden.

  If attacked by a predator, a slow worm can shed its tail to escape, although it never grows back fully.

  The mating season for slow-worms kicks off in May and males become aggressive towards each other. During courtship, the male takes hold of the female by biting her head or neck, and they intertwine their bodies. Courtship may last for as long as 10 hours! Females incubate the eggs internally, 'giving birth' to an average of eight young in summer.