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Grass snakes

borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
edited July 2023 in Wildlife gardening
I was delighted to find grass snake eggs in my compost heap (and horrified that I almost damaged them - but they seem to be OK)

I was turning my heap. I've re-covered them with a deep pile of rotting material and put the tarpaulin back over the heap.

Lesson learnt - I will never again turn my heap in summer or early autumn.

Does anyone know whom I should report the sighting to, these days?


Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    If you are in the UK contact your local wildlife trust. They all have dedicated groups for different wildlife and they will be delighted to have your sighting and photo.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Incidentally does anyone know from when is the earliest that it would be safe to turn the heap now, knowing they would definitely have hatched?

    It would seem I have a narrow window now to turn my compost - in autumn (??) and again in spring?  I wouldn't want to interfere with grass snakes' hibernation either.
  • Wrigs21Wrigs21 Posts: 194
    Cat brought one in as a present once (ps. It was alive and well, just playing dead). They used to appear in our pond but haven’t seen any this year sadly. 

    Don’t know the answer to your question sadly. 


  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    That's beautiful @Wrigs21! I'm glad you had the nouse to understand that it was only playing dead!

    Unfortunately a number of neighbours' cats frequent my garden, which is frustrating because I'm trying to make it as wildlife-friendly as possible. I suspect the cats may be the reason why I haven't seen any slow worms since I moved here, unlike my old garden a few miles away that was full of them.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've found 2 skins which had been shed in my polytunnel.  I think they appeared too close together to be the same one , so I guess at least 2 have been in there.
    Devon.
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