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lurking in the compost heap
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Topic: lurking in the compost heap (Read 5708 times)
ACE
Hectare
Posts: 7,424
lurking in the compost heap
«
on:
September 12, 2007, 19:27:24 »
We have a very nice looking grass snake that hangs around the pond and today I found her eggs in the compost heap, They looked as if they were just about to hatch. I did not have camera handy but they look like this
So if you are turning or moving the compost heap and you come across some, do what I did and recover them. The snakes will not hurt you and I expect you will never even see them.
They are protected and it is illegal to move them or destroy them.
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Lauren S
Hectare
Posts: 1,797
Delightful Devon
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #1 on:
September 12, 2007, 19:52:35 »
I'm sure I would drop dead with fright if I saw this
:'( :'( :'(
Lauren :(
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:) Net It Or You Won't Get It :)
croft8872
Not So New ...
Posts: 15
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #2 on:
September 12, 2007, 20:07:44 »
that would be my worst nightmare
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Hyacinth
Hectare
Posts: 8,276
I love Allotments 4 All
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #3 on:
September 13, 2007, 07:57:11 »
..and it would be my wildest dream ....wish I had some -
I'd
protect them 8) Lucky you, ACE.
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Heldi
Hectare
Posts: 2,992
Run away! Run away !
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #4 on:
September 13, 2007, 09:37:04 »
I think it's really 8) I've never seen a grass snake but will be made up if I ever do :)
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Marian
Quarter Acre
Posts: 83
Thank God for my garden !
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #5 on:
September 13, 2007, 09:41:47 »
I suspect I would be very frightened and run away but I would NEVER harm any type of wildlife.
You are pretty lucky to have this beauty in your garden...
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Robert_Brenchley
Hectare
Posts: 15,593
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #6 on:
September 13, 2007, 14:30:25 »
I don't know why anyone would be frightened by something so harmless!
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Birmingham UK
http://thisandthat-robert.blogspot.com/
lin
Half Acre
Posts: 156
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #7 on:
September 13, 2007, 23:39:16 »
Nor do I snakes are gorgeous, and would absolutely love to have some in my compost heap... Lin
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redimp
Hectare
Posts: 3,928
Colonia Domitiana Lindensium, Flavia Caesariensis
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #8 on:
September 14, 2007, 00:21:31 »
I just wish...that one day...I will have slow worms and grass snakes...and dare I say, adders on my plot. Oooh, how I wish!!! No chance for Smooth snakes though - too far north. :(
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Lotty @ Lincoln (Lat:53.24, Long:-0.52, HASL:30m)
http://www.abicabeauty
Hyacinth
Hectare
Posts: 8,276
I love Allotments 4 All
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #9 on:
September 14, 2007, 08:15:28 »
Hey ACE, yer compost's a bit of orl rite too 8)
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ACE
Hectare
Posts: 7,424
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #10 on:
September 14, 2007, 10:07:02 »
Not mine, I had to pinch the picture as the snakes are camera shy and are always slivering into the pond or away in the long grass. But the eggs and snakes are exactly the same as the photo.
Mind you, the compost heap I am using at the moment is 3 years old and is mainly a mixture of grass cuttings, autumn leaves,anything that will go through the shredder and bonfire ash. I burn all the weeds and trimmings before putting them on the heap. No food scraps apart from fallen apples. I am lucky enough to have enough room to start a new one every year so I always have 4 on the go.
They are huge and one is enough to cover about 500 square yards between 4 and 6 inches deep. The oldest one is used mixed with loam and sharp sand for potting on etc.
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Old bird
Hectare
Posts: 1,373
Re: lurking in the compost heap
«
Reply #11 on:
October 04, 2007, 16:41:38 »
Hi Ace
I haven't got grass snakes in my compost heap but I have a complete extended family of slow worms. They arrived in one of my cheap plastic bins in spring last year so I couldn't move the compost and now there are so many of them they are difficult to count. I have some quite large ones and then ranging in size to tiny ones that are probably no longer than 2inches!
They are now quite used to me and some of the older ones stay long enough for me to stroke them! the youngsters just make a dash for it though. I have made up the compost heap with just a bit more grassy stuff so that it stays warm in there for them.
As it is now getting colder when I open the bin either in the morning or evening there is a complete tangle of bodies! One of the older ones must have been caught by a strimmer and lost some of his length but that has healed and apart from being stubby has survived beautifully.
I wish my son hadn't nicked my camera so I could put a picture of them on here - some are a lovely browny gold and the babies are really shiny bright gold!
;D
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