Martin Whitfield MSP is helping to raise awareness and understanding of adders as part of this year’s Reptile Awareness Day (21st October) and his role as a Nature Champion for them in the Scottish Parliament.

Adders are the UK’s only venomous snakes and have a distinctive zig-zag pattern down their backs.  Adders rarely exceed 60cm in length and can be found around patches of woodland and on heathland in many areas of Scotland and other parts of the UK. 

They are protected by law in Great Britain. It is illegal to intentionally kill or injure adders, or to trade in them.

The Nature Champion initiative is run by Scottish Environment LINK and sees MSPs allocated threatened species and priority habitats to support and champion as part of their parliamentary and constituency duties. Mr Whitfield became a champion for adders in June last year.

Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“Reptile awareness day is a useful opportunity to help raise awareness about these special creatures, well known as the UK’s only venomous snake. However, it’s perhaps less well known that adder numbers have been in serious decline in some parts of the UK over recent years and that conservation work is key to their protection.”

Find out more at www.froglife.org/…/amphibians-and-reptiles/adder/