[prakash_mib]

As space is always a problem for me with my half plot. I am in a deep dilemma. I have a approximately a square yard (3x3) of rubbish carpets, black polythene and underneath it is crouch grass clippings (which i dump once in six months). This is the nesting place for slowworms. with that much space being taken out of my 25X40 (or is it 20X40) plot I am squeezed.
I am torn between keeping the nest or to takeover the space for myself.
 

[crh75]

Tough one. But I think I would fall on the selfish side and use it for myself!

[Aunt Sally]

Slow worms are a protected species and it is illegal to evict them.

I'll check on that it may just be illegal to kill or injure them.

[Springlands]

Oh prakash-mib I would love to have that dilemma. We do not have slow worms (or snakes) in Northern Ireland and I would really love to see one. I think that you should try to leave them where they are.

Also according to the UK Safari site it is a "criminal offence to kill or injure any of the UK's native reptiles. Slow worms are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981". I am not sure but that might make it difficult to remove them from their current position.

[Aunt Sally]

You can move them but you need to follow guidelines - useful information here:

http://www.wildlifematters.com/files/slowworms08.pdf

[Springlands]

Oops Aunty - we were thinking along the same lines 

[prakash_mib]

Holy molly! thats a long process recover a space of 3X3. I cant do it I presume. This is called shooting oneself on foot. Why o Why I created the rubbish area for them to nest in first place. Too much of a nature care man.

[savbo]

sounds like a good place for squashes to me...

[Aunt Sally]

You're doing a good job Prakash.  Slow worms are wonderful little creatures.

You certainly could do what savbo has said and plant squashes, courgettes etc at the edge and train them over the heap.  They will benifit from nutrients and moisture from the heap.

[starry]

so does all that mean that as I had one in my compost heap in the summer that I cant disturb the compost ?? I am already terrified of digging into it in case I hurt one !!

[prakash_mib]

That will be my added question starry.
we have a pallet bin quite close to the rubbish pile where there is composting materials and really rubbish waste waiting to go to skip on other compartment. I am fretting over the clearing of the second compartment as I am sure that I will find some there as well.

[potatogrower]

see if you can consult the wildlife authority, RSPCA, etc what you should do. i mean you paid for the plot and in a way you have a right to use it, as you wish but if the widllife authority or local council can help in moving them to a safe place then that way you get the plot back and they are moved to a better place.