Rare venomous black adder spotted in the UK
Adders, which can grow up to 80cm in length, are recognisable due to their "distinctive" zig-zag pattern and "striking" red eyes and can be found across the country.
Usually they are "greyish" in colour, The Wildlife Trusts explains. However, Black (melanistic) forms are sometimes spotted in the UK.
Native wild animals in the UK
'Rare' black adder spotted in the UK
A walker in Dartmoor experienced a "surreal" moment recently when he stumbled across a "rare" black adder.
Posting a picture on the Facebook page Dartmoor Public Group, the person said: "A surreal moment to stumble upon a gorgeous melanistic (black) adder this afternoon.
"These are rare, and this is only the second one I've ever seen, but most people have probably not encountered an adder of this colour shade before... so I am lucky to have now seen two up to this date."
Adders are the only venomous snake species native to the UK. (Image: Getty Images)
Are adders dangerous?
An adder bite can be "painful" and cause inflammation, BBC Countryfile explains.
The wildlife experts added: "But [it] is really only dangerous to the very young, ill or old."
Other symptoms of an adder bite can include:
Bruising
Tingling
Nausea
Vomiting
Adders are described as being "very shy" and in most cases they will hide when they hear people approaching.
BBC Countryfile said: "They tend to bite only when stepped on, or if panicked at close range."
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How many people have died from adder bites in the UK?
While not typically life-threatening, there have been 55 fatalities attributed to adder bites in the UK since 1722, according to the Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group.
The most recent death from an adder bite was recorded in June 1975 in Trussachs, Perthshire (Scotland).
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The Herald Scotland
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Tribunal bundle reveals new details in Sandie Peggie case
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"Can't help but feel slightly off, upset, put off by this. Disappointed it appears that she chose not to enter because of me and didn't think I belonged there. Sad times." A second note, from October 2023, said Ms Peggie again left the changing room when Dr Upton arrived. After the Christmas Eve incident, Dr Upton wrote that they were "distraught." "I feel attacked and cornered. I explained, this is the first time I've experienced anything like this in person." Asked why they kept a log on your phone, Dr Upton said "if you're having difficult interactions with people, that you should keep a track of it." They added that their wife and mother "also advised her to keep a track of difficult interactions and any repeat behaviours." Dr Upton told the panel they were "feeling uncomfortable in the situation and felt it was good to keep track." They also confirmed they "had previous difficulties with a colleague during her FY1 placement, and had kept a log of that." 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Asked why she told colleagues before Christmas Eve that she would speak to Dr Upton directly, Ms Peggie said: "No one appeared willing to speak to Beth on behalf of myself or my colleagues. "I hope that by speaking to him personally, he might be able to realise he was making us feel uncomfortable by changing in a female changing area, and the reason why, in the hope he would understand and change elsewhere." She said she entered the changing room to change her trousers, which were soiled due to menstruation, and that the situation made her feel "embarrassed." Asked whether her feelings contributed to the interaction, she said: "Yes." Asked if she had discussed the incident with a supervisor, she replied: "I wasn't upset I was menstruating. "I was upset because my dignity as a woman was being violated because I was being forced to deal with the situation with a male being present in the female changing room at a time when I felt vulnerable and in dire need of privacy and a single-sex space. "I didn't feel comfortable speaking to the staff I was working with, especially as it was a personal and embarrassing matter. I was keen to go home, especially as it's Christmas Day, and discuss my upset with my husband and my family." She said the incident lasted just two minutes and that she hoped the conversation might help Dr Upton understand. Asked why she didn't report the matter, Ms Peggie said: "I was hopeful that Beth would accept my concerns and the reasons why I felt uncomfortable. "I tried to give him an example so he could appreciate the severity of the situation. I told them I had a difficult history with men." "I didn't think it was necessary to speak to anyone, because I was hoping, on reflection, Beth would understand." She said she was "upset that the interaction did not seem to have had any influence on the way Beth felt, and I realised from his reaction that he did not seem to care about the stress he was causing me." "I was left shaken following his response. It was on my mind throughout the shift, but I did not want it to impact my work." Sandie Peggie (r) with solicitor Margaret Gribbon (Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty) Ms Peggie denied ever referring to chromosomes. "I am a nurse and don't need to ask a person what their chromosomes are, because I already know. I deny referring to chromosomes during my interaction with Dr Upton." Asked about the reference to the Scottish prison story, she said: "It was in the media at the time. I was trying to give [Dr Upton] an example of how I and other women feel." Asked whether she treated Dr Upton with dignity and respect, Ms Peggie replied: "Yes, because Dr Upton's presence there and the board's decision to permit him to use a female-only changing room was unlawful. "I felt upset, humiliated and harassed to find him there, particularly when I had a menstrual flood to deal with. I remained as calm as I could, but I felt strongly that he should not be there. "His insistence that he was entitled to be there meant I felt I had no option but to try different explanations of why his presence made me and many of my colleagues uncomfortable. "I should not have been put in this position, and I handled it as well and as calmly as I could, given the difficult circumstances in which management had put me." NHS Fife's findings In a statement released on Wednesday, NHS Fife said: "The panel found that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct." Ms Peggie's solicitor, Ms Gribbon, said her client was "relieved and delighted that this 18-month long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations." The tribunal continues.
