Adders:Vipera berus

Adders,  Vipera berus :  This is a protected species; Britains only venomous snake. It is a valuable snake to highlight because the heath doesn’t want dogs running across the heather and long grasses because there are ground nesting birds when the adder is “out”. Visitors to the heath don’t necessarily observe the notices to keep their dogs on a lead.  If there is a small risk to their dogs from snake bite, perhaps they will keep the dog on a lead. I have seen both male and female adders at Farnham heath from late February, they bask at the edge of the heather in south facing spots. Males are whitish with black markings, and the females coppery brown and larger. Their markings are distinctive and just like the sand lizard I made last year will be fun to make and fun to observe!  

The male I made is 2 metres and the female is 2.7 metres. As last years sand lizard they have an internal wire "shape" and the stuffing is a mixture of sand and beechnut husks.

These 2 adders are part of Heathland artworks on Farnham Heath and will be there until the end of October 2025.