Beware of the non-snake!

I came across this slow worm (angius fragilis) basking in the sun on the path from Pound Road to the church. It isn't actually a snake, although easily confused for one, but is actually a legless lizard. The test? Lizards have eyelids, snakes don't. Of course, they aren't dangerous, but at this time of year, they are a bit sluggish and vulnerable to birds and, to be honest, being trodden on.

So, do watch out for our reptilian friends, as they play an essential role in our rural ecosystem. And remember, it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to kill, injure or sell them...