[Alastair-I]

Maybe I'm odd (don't say a word Mum  ) but I would have been thrilled to see a grass snake that close up.

I'm an occasional member of a local Woodland Trust group.. deliberate wildlife hunts will frequently turn-up very little, but on a litter-pick earlier in the spring we came across four grass snakes within a couple of hours.  I think it's the slow, deliberate searching of litter-picking that means you're both less likely to spook things and more likely to see them (there's not a lot of litter across most of the wood).

A couple of Autumn ago I came across one whilst photographing the funghi in the woods.. they are increadibly fast when you're running after them trying to get a shot!