Carried out a NARRS survey protocol survey today at my Local churchyard. I have 30 pieces of felt laid out over a 'wildlife area' which is roughly 1000m2 in size.

The churchyard has recently been designated as a Site Important for Nature Conservation on the basis of it's slow-worm population and its flora (chalk grassland).

Photo of the churchyard this winter

Some of the slowworms found at the site

Today at around 09.30am I found a total of 89 adult slow-worms and 18 juveniles within the churchyard.

This was under 26 pieces of felt (50cm x 50cm in size). A total count of 107 slow-worms. Other species include viviparous lizard (not seen) grass snake (not seen) and common frog (not seen).

The slow-worm population is probably the densest I have ever recorded in the UK. A density of 3.42 animals per felt. If you look at the habitat it is a rough area of grassland which has many anthills - where young slow-worms have been found to be closely associated with these important overwintering habitats. This density over a hectare (10,000m2) would be quite large up to 800+ animals within a survey.

Previous survey results last year included total counts of 109 slow-worms under 20 felt tiles - density 5.45 animals per felt.

I will be regularly visiting the site over the coming months to monitor the individual animals which are also of considerable size.....

Regards

Jon Cranfield

www.alresfordwildlife.org