Ever seen a snake wild in the UK?

axisus

I have once. It was about 6 inches long and all yellow. It was definitely a snake and not a slow worm, I've also seen slow worms and I know what they are like. Must have escaped or been let loose as this country doesn't have little yellow snakes. I tried to catch it but he was a slippery customer and got away in undergrowth.

Jalapeno

Saw an adder on the slopes around Corfe Castle - near shat me pants !

fftc

I've seen adders a couple of times when they have been out basking. First time was up in Perthshire near Loch Errochty.  It was a bit scary at the time but once you realise they won't go for you like in the cowboy movies it's fine. Found one in my back garden a couple of years back when I nearly stepped on it. I'm glad it's adders I'm seeing here though and not the snakes I saw as a boy in Hong Kong!

viz

Used to get metre-long snakes in our grass compost in St Albans. 

quarky

Yes! Green grass snake last weekend. We were sitting by a small lake eating sandwiches and it looks like a stick swimming across. Out of the lake slithered a green grass snake. 

Terrible picture, but towards the bottom of this.
https://1drv.ms/i/s!An1C7f0Qk0d1jfYQ6TVV0wGM3GvYsw

Sporky

There are quite a few on the heathlands where Sprocket gets walked - on the really hot weekend a month or so ago I saw three grassnakes and heard at least a dozen more. I don't think I've seen an adder, but quite a few slow worms. Yesterday there was a hornet on the path. Big orange git. Luckily Sprocket left it be and it buzzed off elsewhere.

equalsql

I used to see green grass snakes in a wildlife place called Hills & Holes near Stamford, but not seen any since. There are supposed to be quite a few Adders on Cannock Chase which is not far from me, but in all the years visiting the place I've yet to see one.

CHRISB50

Yes. See below, in Bushy Park about a year ago. 

DiscoStu

Yeah I saw an adder at Brodie Castle on a school trip. Teacher got a total panic on but we were all fascinated by it. A snake! A real snake!

TTBZ

Almost stepped on an adder (at least thats what my friend told me it was) when I was on holiday in Scotland when I was a child.

viz

Why didn't the viper viper nose?

thermionic

I've seen two when cycling along the road that cuts through marshland along the coast from Cardiff to Newport. One crossed the road in front of me to get into a drainage ditch, the other was roadkill. Pretty sure they were grass snakes.

One of sister's cats a few years ago left half a snake on the kitchen floor one morning. My sister assumed it was a rubber toy from the kids next door and went to pick it up. No, it was real! The cat wasn't even adult-sized at the time, fair play.

olafgarten

I saw loads of snakes last week, Cobras, Adders, the whole lot! Right in the middle of Camden as well.

Teyeplayer

Grass snake crossing the road on a sunny day in Sussex -it was quite a long one, or at least it seemed to be, I was worried that I might have run it over. There are loads on the South Downs I gather, my cousin regularly encounters them when out walking the dog, although that's the only time I've seen one. 

hotpot

No,  I would have loved to have seen one.

proggy

Being a keen angler I get to see loads of snakes when I'm out on the bankside. Mainly grass snakes, and the odd adder. 

stimpsonslostson

I used to teach a field trip on Mull each year. I'd always see at least a couple of Adders if the weather was warm.

ICBM

Yes, when I was a child - I lived out in the country in Herefordshire. Saw a grass snake and an adder in the garden. (Not at the same time!) The adder was a beautiful thing, and much smaller than I expected - presumably young. So was I - about six or seven I think. I was aware enough not to try to touch it though.

I don't really understand the fear of snakes to be honest - they're fascinating and elegant animals. But I know that doesn't help people who have an instinctive reaction to them...

Dominic

Saw a big adder outside our house 3 years ago
My dog was bitten by an adder in the field next to the house -he was very poorly and lame for about 10 days but he survived
after antibiotics for the infection and steroids for inflammation

Schnozz

I used to see Adders and Grass Snakes all the time when I lived in Devon. 

...I ran over their heads on my BMX.

JezWynd

Frequently saw grass snakes and adders when I was growing up as we lived next to a heath, ideal habitat.