[fatcat1955]

Emptying out the compost bin today and barrowed about 5 loads to a new bin. On returning to the old bin saw a snake about 2 foot in length lime green colour scurrying away through the hedge. Question, was this a grass snake or some other snake.

[purplebean]

this site has pictures of Uk snakes, as an alternative name for the grass snake is green snake it may have been that

http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Grass_Snake

[mobilekat]

Probably a grass snake as they are the most common, which part of the UK are you in, as smooth snakes have a restricted range.

Adders tend be be on heathland more, and are very shy too!

[fatcat1955]

I live in Hertfordshire, just got back from watering and the general consensus is that it was a grass snake. Apparently they lay their eggs in the compost bin so that the heat aids incubation.

[savbo]

lucky you! apparently slow worms have been found on one Manchester allotment site so we're going to out out corrugated iron and keep our fingers crossed...

M

[Trikidiki]

I've got slow worms on my plot. I've heard a scurrying through the west facing fence on several evenings and on loking over the fence seen the slow worm disappearing into the nettles on the field edge next door.

I've only seen a couple of grass snakes in the wild but encounter adders quite often when walking in the New Forest. Last time I came across one I had stopped to have a leak in a bush and disturbed a snake sunning itself. Definately not a trouser snake!

Adders are easily identified by the diamond pattern down their backs, smooth and grass snakes are easily confused but as has been said before smooth snakes are very limited in their locations (usuall on heathland).o