The River Derwent Grass Snakes Project, funded by SITA's Enriching Nature fund and Northumbrian Water Ltd, aims to consolidate the existing population of grass snakes by improving habitat along the river corridor. From 2007-2009 new wetland scrapes and pools will be created at several sites along the River Derwent. These will provide amphibian food for grass snakes, whilst also benefiting populations of great crested newts and otters, which are both nationally protected species. New log pile hibernacula are also being built, which will provide areas for grass snakes to hibernate over winter and compost piles are being placed on riverside land, which grass snakes can use to lay their eggs.

The project will be monitoring the success of the new habitat features and trying to establish whether the numbers of grass snake are increasing. To help increase our knowledge of grass snake distribution within the River Derwent corridor, the project partners would like to know if you see any grass snakes.

Please use the survey form to tell us if you have seen any grass snakes.

Adders and slow worms are also present in the Durham area. If you would like to report a sighting of either of these species, please visit "Snakes Alive". This also provides a simple identification guide to which snake you have seen.

Remember :  

• We would like you to report your sightings only, NOT to seek out snakes.

• DO NOT intentionally disturb grass snakes.

• It is illegal to kill, injure or sell grass snakes.

SURVEY FORM