Grass snake

[andy007]

Hi, my first post on this site.
I have always liked snakes and last year saw a Grass Snake trying to escape with a toad in our garden.
This year I have seen a snake several times including a small Grass Snake earlier this week.
Can anyone tell me what I can do to encourage the snake to stay if poss and also we are due to have some trees cut due to electric cables around the area the snakes have been spotted and wondered if this should be cancelled as the snakes may be nesting?
Thanks for any advice.


Grass Snake with toad take Aug 07



Photos taken May and June 08

Same snake?

[deer boy]

Love the pics andy & a big WAB welcome from me

[andy007]

Thanks db, looks a great site

[demicav]

Gorgeous pics. I think if you have the right habitat in your garden including a good food supply (Toads and Frogs) then the Grass Snake should stick around. You're very lucky to have one visiting.

[ellen h]

Lovely pictures,welcome to WAB
ellen

[wildmanofthewoods]

Lucky you!
Great shots, like Demicav says a good food supply, so if you don't already have one a wildlife pond would be good, also keep some of your garden a little wild, this doesn't have to be untidy. Leave the grass to grow and plant some meadow flowers. The insects will benefit too as will loads of other wildlife. Areas to bask where the snakes feel confidently hidden, & food, your nearly there. Oh, and a compost heap this will encourage your snakes to "nest" in your garden.
P.s. please try and avoid using fine garden netting the snakes can get caught up in this, good luck, Al.

[andy007]

Thanks.
We do have a small pond and also a compost bin behind a willow tree which we have this last year allowed the grass to grow around. Hopefully should be good for the snakes.

[galanthus]

great pics and wow, how lucky are you to see these in your garden Ginormous welcome to WAB

[andy007]

Couple more photos for you. I went mad with the camera. Unfortunately I did'nt get the little guy earlier this week.
As I mentioned earlier we are due to have some trees cut due to reaching electric cables. Should this be cancelled as not to upset any possible nesting snakes?




Spot the snake :-)

[wildmanofthewoods]

If you do go ahead with the tree cutting check around for snakes first and remove any that may be in danger, they're usually quite skittish so i don't think they'll hang around the immediate area if they sense any threat.
Perhaps a bigger concern at this time of year is neating birds i often see lots of tree work that has destroyed nests so please check first.