Happy Year of the Snake!

29th January 2025 is the start of the new lunar year and this year is the year of the wood snake. In Chinese astrology an animal is paired with a natural element and the last time the year of the wood snake occurred was 60 years ago. In Chinese culture the snake can represent wisdom and agility and when combined with wood it can also emphasise growth and creativity.

Therefore, we thought this an opportune time to talk about snakes at Middleton Hall. The Nature Trail at Middleton Hall is home to grass snakes. Until 2017, it was thought that the grass snakes that occurred in Britain were a subspecies of the grass snake (Natrix natrix) found in Europe. However, following genetic analysis, it was found to be a completely separate species and is now known as the barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica).

Barred grass snakes in Britain hibernate, often underground, for a large portion of the year, from early October to the end of April. This species of snake is Britain’s only egg-laying snake. It makes its nest in June/July in areas of rotting vegetation because a constant high temperature is required to enable the eggs to hatch in late summer. Middleton Hall Trust found out by accident that compost bays are its favourite location to nest in!

Grass Snake at Middleton Hall. Photograph taken by Harvey Skelcher.

This species is semi-aquatic and a strong swimmer and normally live on the margins of a large body of water to woodland. Their primary food is amphibians, but they may also eat fish, young birds and ants.

Barred grass snakes are non-venomous and extremely timid. They are the prey of many species of birds as well as foxes and cats. As a result, they have a number of defensive traits they use when they feel under threat, including feigning death but they can also make their head look more triangular. This latter trait can trick predators into thinking that they are an adder.

This species is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and cannot be killed, harmed, taken from the wild, kept in captivity or traded without a licence.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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