LOUGHBOROUGH NEWS (UK) 29 April 08 Snakes Alive (P. Klein)
If you have a compost heap in your garden or allotment then take a closer look, as a survey is looking for your help in discovering our slippery friends.
Leicestershire County Council’s Community Heritage Initiative, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Rutland County Council is encouraging the public to become reptile recorders, by getting involved with an on-going countywide survey ‘Snakes Alive.’
Previous survey results have shown that the grass snake is the most common species in Leicestershire and Rutland, whilst in contrast the adder is the rarest. Due to an increase in the number of slow-worm records sent in to the Holly Hayes Environment and Heritage Resources Centre recently, local conservationists now have a greater understanding about its distribution in the two counties. This is generally a species that is often found in gardens and allotments. More records are needed so we can find out if slow-worms are under recorded or whether their populations are declining. Good places to search for slow-worms are under paving slabs or discarded rubbish such as carpets or corrugated iron as well as compost heaps. Slow worms are actually lizards that have lost their legs and frequently mistaken for snakes. They grow to approximately 40 - 50cm. They can be distinguished from snakes by several features - they have eyelids and small ear openings which snakes don’t. Slow-worms look grey-brown, the females having a coppery sheen and two lateral black stripes. The males, particularly in the breeding season display electric blue spots.
Grass snakes can be found along canals, riverside meadows, reservoirs and even basking in garden ponds. The colour of a grass snake is usually dark green or brown, however can range from grey to black. They grow up to 120cm in length making it the largest reptile in the UK. In 2007 the Grass Snake was included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan as it is a species in need of conservation.
The rarer species such as adders and lizards are largely confined to heathland and dry grassland sites, making Charnwood and Rutland the best areas. However if a reptile is spotted it should not be disturbed, just recorded on the survey form and it is a good idea to take photos, especially if there is any trouble with identification. People should never handle animals in the wild.
Forms and information leaflets are free to all members of the public, so if you would like a copy, please contact the Community Heritage Initiative at Holly Hayes, 216 Birstall Road, Leicestershire, LE4 4DG, telephone 0116 267 1377 or e-mail chi@leics.gov.uk for a free form. Further information is also available at www.leics.gov.uk/celebrating_wildlife.
Snakes Alive