Adders are also found in The New Forest, usually in the heathland/gorse areas, so be careful there too. As mentioned above, ticks are a ferreting nuisance too - not just for animals. I had a tick on my arm and had to have it removed with a hypodermic syringe - not the nicest way to pass the time, I can tell you. Lyme disease is nasty to get and takes forever to get over, so best to wear long sleeves and long trousers, even in this weather, if you are going through long grass, ferns etc.