A Visitor to the Garden

He seems to be in striking position. I don't think he's having fun.

Great picture,how lucky you are-I've never even seen one!

Isn't he great! I have only seen one from a distance disappearing into the undergrowth.
Like everything else in the countryside these are less common than they used to be, so I am so pleased that you are not one of those people that need to 'dispose' of anything that they are not sure of.
Grass snakes nest in compost heaps (not mine unfortunately) but don't know if these do, someone else probably will.

We had an adder in the hall once. Block flooring must have seemed cool on a blazingly hot day. We got it coiled around a broom and put it outside.

Then we carpeted the hall! :-)

Wow, isn't it beautiful? I've never seen one though I know there are some round here. You'll need to be careful around the garden on hot days if that's about!

Honeysuckle, we had a grass snake on our compost bin a few years ago - I don't know which of us was more surprised when I took the lid off...

Good thinking about the broom handle and the carpet Eirlys - they may be beautiful but you don't want them in the house!

Snakes take the S shape as a " scare off" defensive posture and adders are not the type to pick a fight.

Steragram: As a Nature Reserve is just over our hedge I don't think I can keep any snake out. As you say, care is needed and I am wary around our compost heap.

Had lots of slow worms in our garden once but not seen one for a while. They are legless lizards but many people kill them because they think they are snakes. Sad! Believe they are protected now. Hope so.

Haven't seen a hedgehog for years and I love them.

Loosestrife2: This one's attitude was, "You looking at me?".

We have lots of slowworms. The neighbour's cat catches them - it looks so funny walking up the drive with one hanging from its mouth like a puffin with a fish -- hate seeing them killed but you have to smile. I beheaded one once with the strimmer - felt awful about it but it was in long grass and out of sight..I must tell the little black cat that they are a protected species.

They are limbless lizards, not snakes

Loosestrife: Yes, I mentioned that because people do kill them believing them to be snakes.

I think they look like sticks of black peppermint rock.

Our cats used to find protected (small) lizards and we would have the job of trying to get them to give them up without hurting them.

Worst enemy: a heath fire, and so many are started deliberately.

The slow worms we have are silvery not black.

How interesting to see this in your garden :)