Adder Spotted

Thursday 5th December

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A juvenile female adder during a recent reptile survey near Basildon. Did you know she’s only about 20 cm long? As the UK’s only native venomous snake, adders are legally protected. Developers must take care to avoid disturbing them.

Our Seasonal Field Ecologist, Jasper Carnell, spotted and snapped it for our monthly Maydencroft nature photography competition and won.

We use “reptile refugia” (tiles of roofing felt) to help find these shy creatures. They trap heat from the sun, giving cold-blooded animals like this little lady a cosy spot to soak up warmth. Let's champion wildlife protection during construction efforts—every species matters.

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