Adder Vipera berus

The Adder (Vipera berus) is Britain’s only venomous snake and one of its most declining reptiles, having been lost from a significant proportion of former sites through habitat fragmentation, disturbance, and persecution. It is associated with open heathland, woodland rides, and sunny coastal habitats where suitable basking sites and sufficient prey are available. In Suffolk, the Adder is most strongly associated with the Sandlings heathlands, where larger, well-connected heathland blocks support viable populations. The species is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and disturbance at known sites – particularly during the spring basking season – poses a real threat to local populations. Heathland restoration and connectivity are vital for its long-term future in the county. Image: © Matt Berry/Greenwings Wildlife Holidays, Flickr.

Find out more: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist