The following information is from the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group Treasurer:
The Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group (KRAG) have teamed up with RSPB to try and find out more about the reptiles found in the Blean National Nature Reserve. Despite all of the things that are known about the history, archaeology, bird, tree and plant species of The Blean, relatively little surveying for reptiles has ever been done and our picture of what species are present and where they live is pretty sketchy. The geology and soils of The Blean can be quite mixed and there are a number of areas that might be suitable for reptiles. We have verified records for common lizards, slow-worms and grass snakes but have never definitively confirmed the presence of native adders and this survey hopes to shed light on this particular mystery. The adder is declining in numbers in Kent as it is across the country and there are fears that without concerted conservationefforts this once common species may be relegated to the ranks of a British rarity or even become extinct. It has already disappeared completely from several counties in England. Understanding their distribution is the first step on the road to securing the conservation status of the adder. Over the winter corrugated tins and felts have been placed in carefully selected spots around the wood which warm up in the sun and provide heat traps where reptiles can bask to warm themselves up before heading off to forage in the undergrowth. If you come across any of these tins please leave them undisturbed but if you would like to be involved in the surveys then please contact the Warden, Jason Mitchell, at jason.mitchell@rspb.org.uk. If you spot any reptiles or amphibians KRAG would be really grateful if you could let them know as sightings can easily be sent to us through the website: http://www.kentarg.org/form/3-comprehensive-online-submission-form
Below is a photo of a rare melanistic adder. (Melanism is a development of dark-coloured pigment in the skin and is the opposite of albinism).