best time/place to find snakes in surrey/hampshire

[SCI]

hi all, I am new to the forum and have always been interested in snakes. I would love to see and photograph some native snakes and was wondering if someone can please give some tips on where to find them in south east england and when the best time is (I understand they hibernate during the winter).

thanks!

[marvin]

hi

try here Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG) - HomePage Hantsspecies : Hampshire Species Groups and ARG-UK - Amphibian & Reptile Group of United Kingdom

good luck
tim

[DrNickBurton]

I hear Thursley common is good for reptiles. I'm planning to go there myself when the weather warms up a bit.

[nightshade]

I do hope that no-one gives specific locations, as we do have people that will try anything to kill snakes. Not that you would of course.

[SCI]

thanks for the responses guys, will check out those websites.

[SCI]

one more question, sorry! when do native snakes come out of hibernation? I am guessing it must be close..

[marvin]

hi

generally...male adders will be out soon with females emerging around a month later. grass snakes should be emerging by then also. second half of march/beginning of april is a good time to see snakes because they tend to bask in more open places and hang around for longer when disturbed. however, they tend to stay around hibernation sites at this time so you'll have a much better chance of seeing them if you now where these are. remember weather conditions are also important.

good luck
tim

[arvensis]

When the weather gets up another couple of degrees then hopefully Vb's will be out. As for the best place to find them, there's quite a few sites in Hampshire and Surrey - it depends on where's convenient for you to go.

Just to think I saw my first Vb a couple of years back on 4th of February - just goes to show that we've had a fairly cold winter this time!

[sbeau66]

sorry for my ignorance, but what is a vb?

[Jason Claxton]

Vb,sounds like the Adder, to me, Vipera berus

Cheers Jason.