Snakes | How common are snake attacks in Britain?

The common European adder, vipera berus, is the only venomous snake native to Britain

There are three types of snake in the UK, the most common being the adder
The common adder has a venomous bite
Adders can grow up to 3ft and live for 15 years
Adders are relatively common in areas of rough, open countryside and are often associated with woodland edge habitats
However, they are very choosy about their locations and the breed is also in danger of dying out
In the United Kingdom, it is illegal to kill, injure, harm, or sell adders under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Bite symptoms include immediate and intense pain, followed by swelling and tingling
The last person in the UK to die from a wild snake bite was in 1975