Having slow worms in your compost or garden is beneficial, since a recent post on Reddit showed this to be advantageous.
post
in the
r/GardeningUK
subreddit recognized.
“I’m delighted to be aware of their presence,” the OP mentioned, and that’s putting it mildly.
While slow worms might not appeal to everybody, their presence suggests a healthy ecosystem.
healthy garden/ecosystem
, biodiversity, and healthy soil. Slow worms are native to Eurasia and can be found throughout most of Europe.
For those
upgrading to natural lawns
Or exploring the idea of rewilding certain properties, the appearance of slow worms indicates that efforts are headed in the right direction. Additionally, native lawns and rewilding initiatives offer numerous advantages beyond just attracting slow worms.
Although natural lawns and rewilding are typically discussed separately, setting up a natural lawn can be considered as
process of rewilding
As suggested by its title, this approach aims to revert your lawn to its natural condition by “re-wilding,” thereby enabling indigenous plants to flourish and prosper.
Sluggish lizards play a minor role in this system, drawn to compost piles where they find warmth, dampness, and plentiful meals. These creatures thrive naturally in lawns that require minimal upkeep and use fewer resources, particularly water.
Tune in now: Gigantic snails taking over New York City?
Indigenous lawns and rewilding initiatives might require considerable effort initially, but they ultimately lead to substantial savings of time and resources over the long term. Plus, you could end up with some contented slow worms (fingers crossed).
A study published in Ecosphere indicates that lawns containing more
indigenous flora attracts a greater variety of birds
And foraging creatures such as animals or insects. An additional study from 2021, featured in Soil Biology and Biochemistry, showed that
native plant
communities
enhance soil microbial diversity
.
The list continues, backed by substantial scientific evidence that
natural lawns
are considerably more beneficial for local ecosystems. Given this information, it’s not surprising to come across aReddit post joyfully highlighting the existence of a slow worm.
The early reactions to the original post were supportive and informative. As one person commented, “Nowadays, I find plenty of slow worms in my community garden, and I’m always delighted when I spot them.”
response pointed out
.
|
Another added
an interesting observation
Incredible! It seems they really enjoy those black compost bins; almost all the slow worms I’ve spotted have been inside them.

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Enthusiastic gardener posts picture upon discovering an unforeseen visitor close to the compost bin: ‘It delights me to see they’re nearby.’
first appeared on
The Cool Down
.