UK: Snakes moved ahead of railway station expansion

[John Ashworth]

Snakes moved ahead of railway station expansion

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 Western Daily Press

Slowworms and snakes living on land near Worle railway station, in North Somerset, have been moved ahead of an expansion of the site to create 320 more car parking spaces.

A team of experts employed by North Somerset Council has already moved 173 slowworms and 17 grass snakes from the site to Rug Hill Nature Reserve, near Cheddar.

Consultant ecologist Harry Fox said: “The reptiles are caught individually by hand using roofing felt and corrugated tin. These materials warm up fast and attract cold-blooded animals to bask.”