How did this happen?

I am baffled. I have a compost tumbler like this one COMPOST TUMBLER - 200L: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors I've just emptied it and there were quite a few worms in it. How on earth did they get in there? Do earthworms climb?

I'm baffled

Angela

[annacruachan]

My compost bin sits directly on the earth, so the worms can just wriggle upwards. If, as I suspect, your tumbler is not in contact with the earth then maybe there were worm eggs on something you put in to rot down. They do breed like mad in the right conditions.

[Dynamo]

I can't say for sure how the worms got there. There may have been eggs in the stuff you put in the bin, or maybe even very small young worms. The bottom line though is that you are obviously making good compost if the worms like it.

Whatever you do, don't knock it. Worms are a gardeners friend.

[GrubbyGirl]

Poor worms must have been getting a headache every time I tumbled!!

[Two_Sheds]

sure they're earthworms? or are they tiger/brandling/compost worms ?

[GrubbyGirl]

sure they're earthworms? or are they tiger/brandling/compost worms ?

I have no idea, I don't know the difference between the two

[Two_Sheds]

earthworms are big fat beige ones (they eat earth not compost)
compost worms are thinner, shorter, and redder (sometimes stripy hence tiger worms) ... and they eat the stuff in compost bins

[lainey lou]

Magic!!!!
.......

[GrubbyGirl]

earthworms are big fat beige ones (they eat earth not compost)
compost worms are thinner, shorter, and redder (sometimes stripy hence tiger worms) ... and they eat the stuff in compost bins

They were definitely redish, so I guess they were compost worms - with wings!

[NOG]

If they are tiger/brandlings pick one up.
If it lays there its an earth worm.
If it fights and bucks is a brandling.

[GrubbyGirl]

If they are tiger/brandlings pick one up.
If it lays there its an earth worm.
If it fights and bucks is a brandling.

Already did that - they wiggled like crazy!