Hampstead Heath's snake population soars after launch of monitoring programme

Grass snakes are thriving on Hampstead Heath, say wildlife experts.

The City of London Corporation, which runs a volunteer grass-snake monitoring programme on the heath, said there had been a marked increase in sightings around the bird sanctuary pond since it began the programme in 2009.

Adrian Brooker, ecologist for the corporation, said: “Hampstead Heath is the closest green space to central London with a breeding population of grass snakes.

“It is a good indicator of a flourishing aquatic habitat because they need a healthy population of amphibians like frogs, toads and newts on which to survive.

"We are creating small ponds and winter refuges to encourage growth in their population.”

The grass snake, which is Britain’s largest terrestrial reptile, is non-venomous and eats frogs, toads and newts, although they sometimes go for small mammals and young birds.

The City of London Corporation protects and conserves 18 major green spaces in London and the South-East, including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest and more than 200 smaller ones in the Square Mile.