8
Course area.
Adders, the most shy of our snakes, occur
in Epping Forest, still in good numbers:
also in Reserve land at Danbury and Holland
Pits Reserve. Four Adders were recorded
from Weeley, seen basking on the railway
embankment, a new record.
The Grass Snake shows a shortage of records
for 1985, but I have found them at Waltham
Abbey and Nazeing in the Regional Park.
They also occur on a number of Trust Reserves
where there is water for them to catch
their aquatic food of Frogs, Newts and
Fish. Being sometimes large and easily
seen, I am afraid they are often still
feared and are killed on sight by the
general public.
As mentioned earlier, a number of the animals
have been recorded from waste land where
they are obviously very vulnerable to any
development plans. The further establishment
of Nature Reserves is of paramount importance
if these animals are to survive, due to their
rather specialized habitat requirements.
Finally, may I thank again all those people
who kindly sent me records of amphibians and
reptiles. Please keep recording and passing
on the information vital to building up our
knowledge of Essex Wildlife. I am always
pleased to help in the event of difficulty
in identification of specimens.
Please write or telephone for help.