Flailing work planned to start on 8th September near Trellech was halted due to concerns for the local adder population. Adders are protected by law against being killed or injured through human activity. Jess Rabjohns sent a last minute plea to Natural Resources Wales to halt the work on Beacon Hill near Trellech, which would have put the endangered species at risk. Dai Rees, the local area manager for Natural Resources Wales, said: "Heathlands are an important part of our natural environment and are home to a wide range of wildlife, as well as a fantastic place for people to enjoy the outdoors. "And the heathlands at Beacon Hill and Broad Meend are particularly important examples of this type of habitat in Monmouthshire. "But in order for heathlands to flourish we have to manage them properly. "Following concerns raised by members of the public we have stopped the planned heathland restoration work at Beacon Hill. "We are now working with the Gwent Wildlife Trust to review the most suitable methods of carrying out restoration to make sure we manage the heathland and protect its wildlife." Adders are relatively common in areas of rough, open countryside and are often associated with woodland edge habitats. They are less inclined to disappear into the surrounding undergrowth when disturbed and so are probably the most frequently seen of the three British snakes. Young adders are threatened by a variety of predators, including birds of prey such as the common buzzard and sometimes adult snakes. Most adders are distinctively marked with a dark zigzag running down the length of the spine and an inverted 'V' shape on the neck. Males are generally white or pale grey with a black zigzag. Females are a pale brown colour, with a darker brown zigzag. The adder is the only venomous snake native to Britain. No-one has died from adder bite in Britain for over 20 years.