Grow Your Own Magazine

in my compost bin.

It may be a slow worm or a grass snake, I didn't hang around long enough to find out, even the pictures in the wildlife guide book were freaking me out.

I now lob the veg peelings in from a distance and I think my husband will have to dig the compost out from the bottom!

What with that, the fox cubs under the shed and the odd frog hopping around I am thinking of opening the garden as a wildlife park!

Don't be scared hamsterqueen poor critter probs much more terrified than you! Go on, be brave go and take a peek, get a photo if you can.

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

I have a HUGE fear of snakey things, I don;t think I have moved so fast in years!!

We have slow worms in the garden evrey year, the fist time I saw one I was a bit scared cause it was fully grown and I wasn't sure what it was, but now I get quite excited about them.
Can you get anyone else to have a look for you Hamsterqueen?

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

I am trying to persuade my son to do it!!

May cost me a new pair of trainers though

We had a grass snake in the garden, but only once. I knew there was something different in the border cos the sparrows were setting off a-squabbling around where it was. It was very pretty. I envy you your snakey thing hamsterqueen, do try and overcome your phobia, they're fascinating things.

I ran out to get a photo, then realised I'd got no shoes on! Nipped back inside to be sensible, by which time the snake had started to retreat so I didn't get a great shot.

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

Wow, I'm jealous, I'd love a snake in the garden. You've got a compost bin with built-in rat & mouse protection!

I think I'd have jumped as well Hamsterqueen even though I like snakes etc. it's still a bit of a shock to come face to face with one where you don't expect it! The only thing I've found in the compost bin so far was a frog hibernating in there one year, I left the compost until the following spring as I didn't want to disturb it!

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

I think you're really lucky and I would be straight out there with my camera.

Obviously the main reason for me taking on an allotment was for the fresh home grown produce but I'm becoming more and more amazed at the amount of wildlife that our site attracts. I heard a cuckoo the other day (I claan't remember the last time I heard one), I've seen a Fox at the bottom end of the site, numerous hedgehogs, toads and there's a Buzzard that soars over the woods to the back of the site.

I've installed a nest box on the side of my shed and fingers crossed something will make use of it one day.

You are so lucky! It's probably a slow worm (which is a lizard not a snake) and they eat LOADS of slugs. http://www.herpconstrust.org.uk/images/af1.jpg
They are completely and utterly harmless to you - and so beautiful. They are protected by law and you must not kill or injure them (not that you would). You are blessed to share your compost heap with them. Google Image Result for http://www.herpconstrust.org.uk/images/af1.jpg

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

sorry about the writing its just the way me and my friends talk to wach other...... im 12
x

sorry .... im just not used to it x

Sorry flowers is much better at spelling than that im ashamed but thats how they all talk now !! Anyway my 2nd son ben used to catch slow worms etc and sneak them into the cellar hoping i wouldnt find out, but one of his brothers would always tell me and i would make him take them back to where he found them, he now has loads of snakes at home as well as frogs, stick insects and loads of other animals.

hello flowers, took me a while to decipher (must be getting old!)! Welcome!

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

sorry mum!!!

come on flowers, say it like you mean it!

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

I plucked up the courage to open the link to the picture and yes we are fairly sure it is a slow worm!

hey snakes are lovely and are more scared of you than you are of them

i rescue snakes and currently have a 11 foot boa constrictor and she is so big i cannot lift her on my own as for one i do not want to hurt her and two she be too heavy
i also have a californian king snake
a carpet python
a western hog nose

they are all lovely

Well done for being so brave hamster queen!
slo worms are lovely, you've nothing to fear! Infact, I'd say you are honoured!

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

How do I attract some slow worms - not only are they beautiful - they are a sure fast way that mother-in-law won't visit.....

Great shot SBP. Thanks for sharing it. I'm not a snakey person, but if I had one I'd get used to it - and share the pic with you all.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

We had a teeny lizard on the patio once too Alice, but I couldn't get to the camera quick enough.

Think the slow worm is a good deal though, anything that eats slugs has to be good?

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

When I moved my compost bin in the winter (it had stopped composting) I disturbed a family of mice.
After the initial shock, I went back and watched them for a bit, they aren't really welcome pests to the garden, but I thought they were quite sweet at the time

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http://clairescraftandgarden.blogspot.com/

I once saw two baby slow worms - beautiful - they're bronze, with a black stripe down each side.

I don't think you would like my garden much hamsterqueen!!
When we were digging out the house (yes, I know that every sane person would dig a garden but there you go) we found a nest of small cross green snakes. I saw a large black snake under the wheel barrow - about 1 metre long and we have huge green lizards with blue faces sunning themselves in the grass I have also seen fire salamanders on the rocks - which are stunning, black with bright yellow markings. Not to mention the usual little brown lizards which are everywhere.
I love it here
Tx