Have you seen this animal?

If so you would be one of the lucky ones, slow-worms are very secretive animals. Although they look like snakes slow-worms are actually legless lizards.

What do they look like?

Adult slow worms can grow up to 45cm in length. Males vary in colour from grey to light brown or bronze with a pale belly, females are typically browner than the males, and have darker brown flanks, a dark belly and a black stripe running along their back.

Where do they live?

Slow worms can be found in a variety of habitats including woodland, heathland, wasteland and arable land. Slow worms spend most of their lives buried in litter, dense vegetation or underneath warm objects. The most likely places we would come across them would be compost heaps or under bits of old wood, tin or carpet that are lying around. Slow-worms hibernate from October until February/March and mate from April to June females give birth to live young between late August and early October.

Why survey?

Slow worms are distributed throughout Wales, though they are most concentrated in the north, west and extreme south of the country. We want to survey for slow-worms as they are one of the many species which have suffered a historical decline as land use of the countryside has intensified. Allotments and gardens could be one of the last remaining strongholds for this species.

What do we want?

The newly reformed Brecon & Radnor Amphibian Group would like records of slow worms past and present in order to build up a picture of slow worm populations in Brecknock. If you have a slow worm record you would like to pass on to us please either email the record using the subject: "Slow worm" or post your record to Brecknock Wildlife Trust at the address on the homepage. We welcome all records but please include a date and a grid reference or postcode of the sighting and ideally including information on the number of animals found and the habitat they were found in.

Many thanks from the Brecon & Radnor Amphibian and Reptile Group!