Slow-worm Compost Survey - Take The Survey

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	Slow-worm Compost Survey
	...a survey of slow-worms in compost heaps

	Please join our survey of Britain’s most secretive reptile, the slow-worm, and its apparent attraction to compost! Drawn by the abundance of slugs and other food, slow-worms are the original gardener’s friend. These shy and harmless animals look like small snakes but are in fact legless lizards. We hope you can help us to build up a picture of how important compost heaps are to slow-worms, and what sort of conditions suit them best. By taking part in our slow-worm compost survey, you are also helping our wider initiative – the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme.

(I) Date submitted (dd/mm/yyyy)

(II) Your details

Name

Phone number

Address

Postcode

(III) Where is your composting site?

Location

City/town/village

Postcode

If you are familiar with using grid references (e.g. in the form SP 123 456) then please provide. Information on grid references can be found here

Grid reference

(IV) Other information about your composting site

What type of site is the compost heap located in?

(If you selected other please describe below)

Indicate the nature of the site setting

(V) Information about your slow-worm(s)

How many times have you found slow-worm(s) in your compost?

If known, give the most recent date you found slow-worm(s) e.g. June 2005

If seen in previous years, list the years you found them

What is the greatest number of slow-worm(s) you have found in your compost at any one time?

Where in the compost do you find slow-worm(s)?

On top of the compost

Yes

Middle of the compost

Yes

At the bottom of the heap

Yes

What was the condition of compost where the slow-worm(s) were found?

(If you selected other please describe below)

What other reptiles or amphibians have you found in your compost? (e.g. frog, toad, grass snake, etc).

What other reptiles or amphibians have you found in your garden or allotment? (e.g. slow-worm, frog, toad, newt, grass snake, common lizard, etc).

(VI) Information about your compost bin/heap

Type of compost bin/heap in which slow-worms found

(If you selected other please describe below)

If you are using a manufactured bin, please specify manufacturer and/or model

Floor to compost heap

(If you selected other please describe below)

Cover to compost

(If you selected other please describe below)

What is the capacity of the compost heap (litres, cubic metres or dimensions in cm)?

How long has the compost bin/heap been in place?

How is the compost managed?

If material composted in batches, give age of batch when slow-worm(s) found

What material is composted? Click on relevant buttons

Grass cuttings	Yes	No	Wood chip/bark	Yes	No
Leaf	Yes	No	Vegetable/fruit	Yes	No
Kitchen waste	Yes	No	Other	Yes	No
(If you selected other please describe below)


Is the compost heap location:
Sunny Partially shaded Shaded

By submitting this form, I understand that the information I provide will be entered onto a computer database. My name and contact details will be used only in relation to this survey. I agree to share any intellectual property rights that may pertain to the data submitted on this form.

Click map to view results for NARRS in 2007