Monty Don, a presenter for the BBC's 'Gardeners' World,' has cautioned gardeners that grass snakes could be found in their compost heaps. He shared a video on Instagram showing a large grass snake slithering along a fence before disappearing into the ground, highlighting that these reptiles sometimes lay their eggs in compost. These eggs can then be uncovered when gardeners turn the compost.
Don noted that while some people may be apprehensive about encountering snakes, grass snakes are harmless. He expressed his personal comfort with sharing his garden with them. Grass snakes are Britain's longest native snakes, capable of reaching up to a meter in length. Although they typically inhabit woodlands, their preference for water sources can lead them to venture into gardens. These snakes are generally shy and tend to retreat if they detect human presence.
Britain is also home to adders, a venomous species of snake that differs from the harmless grass snake. Adders are known to bite people occasionally. In May, a man named Zak Brown reported being bitten by a juvenile adder while paddleboarding in Suffolk. He described an immediate, burning sensation on his ankle and saw the snake attached to his heel. After a two-hour paddle back to his car, he sought medical attention at a hospital and received anti-venom treatment, remaining overnight for observation. Doctors indicated that he was fortunate the snake was a juvenile, as an adult adder's venom could have posed more serious health risks.