Grass snake

Well, I don't like snakes much but you did get a nice photo of it...

LOOks big!

How lucky you are to see this....always wanted to see one so very pleased for the pic.

is this a smooth snake?

No, definitely a grass snake - unless you mean smooth as in Bryan Ferry. Smooth snakes live in dry, sunny areas, grass snakes prefer damp, shady places. They swim well which is why I think the pond attracts them. You see trails through the duckweed where they have been.

It's just the way that the light caught it Wagger, I have looked closer at the photo and it has a pettern on it and grass snakes do like the water. We've been along the canals and seen them swimming. We had a grass snake in our first garden, as when we took the property over is was very wild, with grass and weeds two feet high.