Musings from the Merse
Friday, September 15, 2006
PEOPLE in Berwickshire are being asked to be on the look-out for grass snakes in the area.
So runs the headline in the latest edition of the Berwickshire which has also carried the rather fierce image of this harmless reptile. THe story goes:
Officially grass snakes are resident only in England and Wales but it is believed they may have spread to Scotland and could be lurking in the Borders.
Froglife, a national charity concerned with the conservation of amphibians and reptiles, now wants to investigate this issue further.
During this summer it has been running a project funded by Scottish Natural Heritage called "Snakes in the Grass", asking people seeing a grass snake to contact them.
The grass snake is the largest of Britain's reptiles. Once widespread in England and Wales, they have become increasingly scarce in recent years.
There has been a number of anecdotal sightings of this harmless reptile Appeal for snake sightings
in the Scottish Borders in the past, but whether it actually occurs in Scotland remains an unanswered question.
If you live or walk in the Scottish Borders and have seen a grass snake in the last few months, please help Froglife solve this puzzle by getting in touch.
Keep your eyes open when you are out on warm mornings or afternoons in the last of the summer weather for a green snake with a yellow/white neck collar and dark bars down its side.
This snake is often found near water, so fishermen should keep their eyes peeled too!
To find out more visit Froglife's website at www.froglife.org where there is a "Snakes in the Grass" questionnaire that can be downloaded to record your sighting.
Alternatively you can call Froglife on 01733 558444 or email info @froglife.org for a questionnaire.
There are none in Huttonian's garden as far as we can discover. The grass around the pond is so lush a large python could easily be concealed and has become a bit of a no go area as has the furthest flower bed where lurks a monstrous wasps' nest. St Patrick successfully expelled all snakes from Ireland and St Andrew may have done the same for Scotland.
If I have an anecdotal sighting Froglife will be the first to know
Comments:
No, Anxious of Ayton they do look like that and they are harmless. You don't need to touch it-just a soothing hissing noise and it will be on its way. If it really seems to be pink and purple I suggest you seek medical advice
If anyone in Scotland has an anecdotal sighting it'll be Ronnie Corbett and it'll involve the producer, a man at the golf club, a misunderstanding and it'll be a total waste of 3 minutes 30 seconds of everybody's time ;-)
Younger bloggees ignore the above.
Younger bloggees ignore the above.
# posted by 
: 12:31 AM
: 12:31 AM
A bloggee has sent in an image of a grass snake and a sighting in the Borders. Photo will follow with the help of the Huton Think Tank techies
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