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I know there's loads on here but I'm having trouble finding the exact answer.

I've just moved my compost to a mound on top of some dirt in my front (grassed! :) ) garden. Will there be worms present or do I need to encourage them somehow ro go and get some and drop them in?

I would think that they'd find their own way. There should already be plenty in the soil under the heap.

Zoe

My understanding is that there will be worms around as long as the compost is warm and on dirt / grass. But I expect there will be more definitive answers arriving soon!

That was my thinking too - will I see them?

Be patient, the worms will find their own way to the heap. My 3 bins are at the bottom of the back garden and I have never had to add worms. There are hundreds of worms in them. On another note, if you see slugs in your heap, remove them before they lay their eggs. Otherwise when you add your compost to your veg patch the eggs will hatch and feed off your new plants.

Never thought of that - good thinking! Removed a slug today from a basket I was putting away - first time I've had slug slime on my hands, that was fun trying to wash it off!

Our compost heap in Portugal NEVER has worms though and we have never seen a worm and very few slugs in the land either even after rain when there are loads on the grass in UK. It is very sandy / rocky, is this why? Any idea if it is possible to persuade them to visit our compost...it is lovely and warm and rots down fast without them but I like worms! We do see slow worms so maybe they eat them??

Pumpkin&Piglet wrote:Never thought of that - good thinking! Removed a slug today from a basket I was putting away - first time I've had slug slime on my hands, that was fun trying to wash it off!

I usually use gloves to remove them.