THE SCOTSMAN (Edinburgh, UK) 14 February 05 Volunteers Wanted for Reptile Rescue (Dan Webber)

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) has today called for volunteers to help build a unique underground winter home for the county’s reptiles.

Trust members aim to create a reptile hibernacula on land off St Marks’ Avenue, Salisbury on February 20.

Builders working on the town’s London Road Park and Ride project realised protected slow worms and common lizards may be present and contacted the trust who identified the nearby St Marks Open Space as a suitable re-homing site.

Each hibernacula takes the form of a single shallow excavation dug into the ground and carefully filled with branches and rubble, leaving lots of nooks and crannies inside for the reptiles to curl up in.

In winter, slow worms can be found inside a hibernacula. These beautiful protected creatures, which range in colour from steel grey to copper, look like snakes but are actually legless lizards.

WWT Salisbury community wildlife officer, Martin Gilchrist, said: “Slow worms are completely harmless – about the biggest thing they can manage to eat is a big juicy slug, so you don’t need to worry about them when you are out enjoying the fresh air in these areas.

“They love to bask under rocks and stones, so over the summer sheets of roofing felt and corrugated iron will be placed on the ground at the proposed Park and Ride site to attract them so they can be collected and moved to their new location.”

The construction of the hibernacula is the first part of wildlife habitat improvement works to make sure the area is able to support its new residents. Management of long grass and scrub will also play an important part.

To help build the hibernacula and find out more about what reptiles need to survive in the UK, meet at St Mark’s Open Space, Salisbury, at 10am. Bring a packed lunch and outdoor clothing. For more information contact the trust on 01722 790770.
Volunteers Wanted for Reptile Rescue

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