Despite the name, the Slow Worm is not a worm, nor is it a snake but rather the UK's only legless lizard. Its identity is given away by certain key characteristics, namely its ability to shed its tail and blink with its eyelids.

While long (up to half-a-metre), the Slow Worm has a tiny circumference ' around the size of an adult human's finger. These small reptiles have smooth, golden grey skin, small dark yellow eyes and black forked tongues. They're completely harmless to humans, eating slugs, snails and insects, but they have a lot of predators, including otters, Grey Herons, Hedgehogs, Badgers and domestic cats.

Like other reptiles, they hibernate, but can be seen from around March to October.

In May, mating season for Slow Worms kicks off and males become aggressive towards each other. Courtship begins when the male bites the female's head or neck to take hold of her and the two intertwine their bodies - this may last up to 10 hours. Females incubate the eggs internally and in summer will 'give birth' to around eight young.

Possibly one of the longest-lived lizards, the Slow Worm can live up to 30 years in the wild.