New garden resident!

[Suzanne]

I always thought grass snakes were small animals, when we first saw this one we thought it was an escapee from someones collection. We managed to get a picture, and we think it is just over 4 ft long. I have since read up on them and the can get to 180cm 

Thank goodness they are shy retiring types. We have seen it several times since as we have a good frog/toad population, I know this as our hosta's are generally never damaged.

 

[Robert_Brenchley]

Males are usually around 3-4 feet, females 4-5 feet. They coil up pretty small, but they're certainly long.

[posie]

  Whoa if I saw that in my garden I think I'd move!!! I don't mind iddy biddy grass snakes but that would send me running for the hills! lol

[Fork]

OMG!........where did you find the courage to get so close with the camera...or did you have a massive lens 

Im such a coward....I would have been in the next village about 10 seconds after I saw it on my lawn!

[Suzanne]

He (or more likely she) started to move away very quickly, we were about 10 ft away when this was taken. One more step and one more picture and it was gone.

Have to say it seems to like the stones near the bird bath as good cover but also the stones are warm, and also our hidden store at the back of a big Robinia - which worries OH he says he needs to tie string round the ankles of his trousers. I have said I thought that was for ferrets! If I tell you his reply I shall have to go to the watershed. 

[honeybee]

Amazing picture  And yes I would be running a mile too 

[debster]

you big bunch of woosies, i would only have moved if it was poisonous, i think they are beautiful got a lovely piccie somewhere of me cuddling a snake

[lorna]

Brilliant photo. I think they are beautiful providing I am sitting here and looking at it on screen

[star]

Fantastic pic, I love to see them but not in my garden.........they eat frogs and toads

[spudsmummy]

omg if i saw this any where near my house i think i might have pooped myself and ran away.
Gr8 pic though

[Kea]

Suzanne I just checked which part of the country you live so i make sure I never go there!!

[Trixiebelle]

ERK! 

[calendula]

Lovely, I adore snakes - curiously, a few years ago there was a car accident outside our house and the occupants were ok but we brought them inside and got them checked out - they had a small cobra with them only about 18 inches and it looked great moving around on the sofa and when I held it, gosh was it tight round my fingers - good job it was a young one but the police and paramedics that attended were freaked out 

[Paulines7]

Here is a picture of me three weeks ago with a snake in the reptile house at Longleat.  I thought I would be scared but once I knew it was harmless, I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to hold it.

[Suzanne]

I have never had the opportunity to hold a snake, but would love to give it a try.  Apparently we have lots of snakes in the village this year, a small one has been found run over on the road, which is really sad.

Also one got into our neighbours conservatory when the doors were left open - the lady of the house found it curled up on the warm stone floor under a chair.

However, I can mention none of this to my best friend who is absolutely petrified of snakes - she may never come to visit if i tell her how large the snake is!

[Kea]

If I found that on my allotment I'd probably never go back.