We have three native species of snake in England. They are all relatively small and have different markings (which the trained eye can see) and are shades of green, brown, grey with darker markings of dark brown and black. Although snakes are similar in looks,, they are in many ways very different from each other in behaviour.

The Smooth Snake is very rare and very secretive and was only discovered as a separate snake species in the mid 1800’s. It only lives in some specific sandy heathland in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. The Grass snake, our most common snake, is a surprisingly good swimmer and is often seen in or around water hunting for frogs, toads, newts and small fish.

The Adder is a rather small and quick snake and its speed enables it to catch mammals such as mice, field voles and small birds. The adder has another characteristic which is a poisonous bite that stuns and paralyses animals before they are eaten.

Both the Adder and Grass Snake are found throughout England, but as you would expect the further north and the colder it becomes the smaller the number of snakes are to be found there.