Slow-worm
(Also known as blind worm, deaf-adder)
In the New Forest slow-worms are found throughout the damper and more heathy areas. They are also common in grasslands and gardens within villages, but are not often seen. In the UK they are found throughout lowland England, Scotland and Wales.
Unlike other British reptiles they do not bask in the sun, but share with amphibians a fondness for cool, damp places, such as open woods, damp heaths, rough grassland and meadows with hedges and scrub. They are also found in gardens, especially compost heaps, and their fondness for slugs and snails makes them the gardener’s friend. You are probably just as likely to see one in your garden as in the New Forest.
Slow-worms are thought to be the longest-lived of all lizards – the age of 54 years has been reliably recorded, although the normal lifespan is around 15 years.
