ADDER

22nd November 2023

Photo Credit: Alasdair James, Getty Images, CANVA

For ‘tis the mind that makes the body rich,

And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds,

So honour peereth in the meanest habit.

What, is the jay more precious than the lark

Because his feathers are more beautiful?

Or it the adder better than the eel

Because his painted skin contents the eye?

PETRUCHIO: Taming of the Shrew, Act 4, Scene 3

ADDERS

The Adder (Viperus berus) is a member of the Viper family and Britain’s only venomous snake. They live in woodland, heathland and grassland, hibernating from October to March. Although their bite is venomous there was only one adder related death in Britain between 1950 and 1972. Their numbers are threatened by habitat destruction.

More Information

Amphibian & Reptile Conservation: Visit Site

Natural History Museum London: Visit British Snakes

Woodland Trust: Visit Adder Post