allotment wildlife

[hellsbells]

Hello all

I have a couple of allotments in Essex and until last week thought the only residents were slugs, snails and red ants as well as plenty of weeds.

A fortnight ago I checked on my compost bin and thought someone had put a bit of old hosepipe in it. That was until it moved. I believe this is a grass snake but it looked a lot greener than any photo found on the web.

Assuming it is a grass snake, would it have laid eggs in the heap, because I dont want to disturb or injure anything and am quite happy to leave it alone. When would any young be clear of the bin?

Then this morning I was having a natter with a friend and spotted a small mouse running over some carpet covered ground closely followed by a slighty bigger "rodent".

This was chocolate brown about 6-8 inches long with a white chest and a longish body. The mouse escaped and we watched the other run around in circles for about 5 minutes.

Would this be a weasel, stoat or mink, I would love to know?

[DL]

Sorry dont know about the snake but a very lucky find.

A Stoat has a very obvious black end to its tail. If you did not see this it was probably a Weasel, Mink are very large by comparison.

[Gill Catton]

Hello and welcome to the frum!!!
Yes it certainly sounds like a weasel or a stoat, did you notice if it had a black tip to it's tail?

[Wild-Woman]

Hi hellsbells and welcome to WAB. It's great to here about allotment wildlife. Bring back allotments is what I say. Too many are getting eaten up by houses. You've just proved how important they are for our native wildlife-especially if it's organic.Sounds like it's supporting grass snakes nicely and the odd weasel/stoat or two.
Hope you can post some pictures for us. ww

[Beryl]

Hi Hellsbells. Welcome
Beryl

[rlchew]

Hi hellsbells .... great name!

Welcome to WAB.

It is interesting to hear about wildlife on the allotments. Where are you in Essex?

Richard

[glsammy]

Welcome to WAB..I imagine the snake could easily be raring young in your heap, so best to leave everything as is. I'm no snake expert though, no doubt others will more knowledge will chip in.

[nightshade]

Hello hells bells,The grassnake in my garden probably came from my compost heap,if you can leave it do just on the off-chance,you may have a miniature wildlife haven on your hands enjoy it!

[hellsbells]

Hi all

Thanks for the replys, I didn't see a distinct black part of the tail, and I might take my camera over there just in case.

As for the wildlife I have seen foxes chasing birds and helping themselves to the produce over there, also a couple of rooks/raven/crows regularly sit and watch me dig. I put water on the tarpaulins covering the ground for them and they dunk bread in it and have a bath.

I have been told there were a lot of frogs and toads before snakes ate them but the snakes haven't been seen recently. I am thinking of digging a pond to try and introduce some back to give the slugs a run for their money.

Its very true about the houses and I took a 2nd plot just in case the council or 2 shags think they can build especially as I live in the so called M11 Corridor! I' ll give them a run for their money too.

[nightshade]

Good for you every breathing space is so necessary, enjoy what you have, they could be more precious than you know

[mike41242]

lucky you to see one so close.it sounds like a weasel at that length.
if the grass snake has laid eggs they will hatch in the summer months if that helps.