Wildlife in the garden - grass snakes

Have you ever spotted a snake in your garden?  Grass snakes are not uncommon in England and Wales, though absent from gardens in Scotland and Ireland.  However, they’re also shy creatures and likely to disappear at the first sign of human disturbance, so they’re not always easy to spot.  Grass snakes are usually a greenish colour with a yellow and black collar, pale belly and markings down the sides.

It’s most likely you’d see them early in the morning, basking in the sun to generate warmth.  Grass snakes are usually found close to water, so its possible you could see them lying next to your pond or emerging from the compost heap, as they lay eggs in rotting vegetation and incubate them until they hatch in autumn.

Grass snakes eat amphibians, fish, small mammals and birds, but they are themselves prey to foxes, cats, hedgehogs and badgers.  If you’re not keen on the idea of snakes in your garden, don’t worry: they’re completely harmless to humans and pets.  It’s also worth knowing that it’s illegal to deliberately kill or injure them, so it’s best to welcome them – or at least tolerate them – for as long as they make your garden their home.