Adder

We're taking action to save the Suffolk's adder population.

The heathlands of the Suffolk coast are some of the few remaining strongholds in the UK for adder. Once widespread across England, adder populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and disturbance from humans and dogs. 

To protect Suffolk's remaining adder population, and to restore their numbers, we're working on our nature reserves and with farmers and landowners across eastern Suffolk to create adder hibernacula (places for the snakes to hibernate) and to restore adder habitats across the wider landscape.

A typical hibernacula consists of an underground chamber approximately 2 x 4m wide and a hole 0.5m deep lined with timber and rocks, and topped with soil and turfs to provide insulation from frost. Gaps are deliberately left to create sheltered nooks and crannies for adders to hibernate, and a south-facing bank for them to bask in the warming sunshine when they emerge in spring. 

Our Wilder Landscapes team is targeting fringe populations of adder that were identified in heatmapping work conducted by Natural England. The aim is to address habitat loss and population fragmentation, focusing on sites where the snake’s preferred habitat has been lost to reconnect the species across the landscape.

It's also vital that the hibernacula are located close to good foraging habitat, allowing the snakes easy access to food soon after emerging from hibernation in Spring.

If you have a known adder population, good foraging habitat, and are interested in hosting one or more hibernacula, please get in touch:

wilder.landscapes@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

How you can help adders

There are a number of ways you can help adders and other reptiles at home, in your community, and when you're visiting areas where adders might be active. Remember: adders are protected by law, meaning it's illegal to disrupt, injure or kill them.