Slow worm - Slow worms and humans

Although their snake-like appearance means that people are often scared by slow worms, especially if they turn up in someone’s garden, they are in fact harmless to humans and do gardeners a favour by eating lots of slugs, snails and other slow-moving garden pests.

The lock down in 2020 is thought to have been beneficial for slow worms. They are often disturbed whilst mating during May as this is a long process for them. With fewer people around outside as a result of the lock down, it's hoped that slow worms will have had more time to themselves and, thus, a chance to breed more easily.