March 2018 - Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018 - Sussex Amphibian & Reptile Group
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March 2018 Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
1
Dear Members,
It has been a while! We are a quarter of the way through
2018 and I wonder, not only if I will ever feel my feet again, but how
our amphibians and reptiles are coping with this interminable cold
weather. As you will know this Newtsletter is long overdue, mainly
because our editor, Adam, moved away from the area, we wish him all
the best in his new job and thank him for his hard work over the last
5 years. We are very pleased to have Bob Foreman as our new editor
and we should now be back to our usual schedule of two Newtsletters
a year coming your way.
Looking forward we have a range of activities lined up for the
year with monthly surveys for members to get involved in. Details are
within the Newtsletter and for information on specific events please
get in touch with the lead surveyor. We are delighted to be adding
more and more opportunities for our members to join us on surveys and
are already lining up exciting projects for 2019. So come along and get
involved. We want to encourage our members and the wider public to
learn more about our native reptiles and amphibians and how they
are monitored across both Counties.
All of this is very positive and over the past six years the group
has been resurrected and is going from strength to strength, but we
need your help. The committee is small and as with all these groups
people move on and are always hard to replace. We need more people
on our committee to ensure the group continues to function and grow
over the coming years with new input and ideas always welcome. If
you are interested in helping out or coming along to see what it is all
about then please let me know.
So I wish you all a successful year and hope to meet more of
you out on survey events, in the meantime enjoy your long awaited
Newtsletter.
Pete
SxARG Chair
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
2
Latest news...
New Toad Crossing at
Barcombe
Chris Drewery
The beautiful
ancient pond
Last winter Sarah Morgan contacted SxARG to which the
because she was so concerned at the toad toads are
journeying
carnage in Church Road, Barcombe. and one of
With the help of neighbours she managed to the lucky
rescue a good number of the 2017 cohort, but was ones that
got a helping
determined to be better organised in 2018. SxARG hand.
have now registered the crossing with Froglife and
bought in toad road signs, powerful torches and toad ladder and I was to be trained by Barry Kemp
visi-vests for the team. We were expecting to fit on the 6 February, so the learning curve was steep;
toad ladders to the gully-pots in early February, but but the ladders were fitted quickly, though I did
the toads were in a hurry. On 26 January, 3 weeks manage to trap a hand in a drain cover-ouch!
before expected Sarah emailed me to say she had Many thanks to Sarah and her team for the
gathered up 67 toads the night before. So the race great work they are doing and we look forward to
was on to get ladders fitted. I had never fitted a hearing how things have gone in the 2018 season.
The European Grass Snake Natrix natrix persa occurred further south into the
Balkans, Italy and some Mediterranean Islands.
has a new name! However, following a recent paper by Kindler
Georgina Judd et al. (2017), the mitochondrial and nuclear
microsatellite DNA data tells a different story - now
Until recently two species of European Grass based on this evidence things have all changed!
Snake were described: Natrix natrix (found across Everything (more or less) to the west of the river
much of Europe including the UK) and Natrix Rhine in Germany is now Natrix helvetica and
astreptophora (found in North Africa and Iberia). so the UK grass snake is no longer classified as
Natrix natrix was further divided into around Natrix natrix helvetica it is the subspecies Natrix
fourteen sub-species with Natrix natrix helvetica helvetica helvetica. Confused? No need, we still
being the subspecies found in the UK, France, only have three snake species in the UK, one grass
small parts of Germany and a smattering of snake (Natrix helvetica helvetica), the adder (Vipera
neighbouring countries. Natrix natrix natrix berus) and the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca).
occurred to the east of the river Rhine in Germany One is just temporarily having an identity crisis.
across most of central and northern Europe and For more information visit www.arguk.org.
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
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Snakes in the heather heath, which is in decline across most of the country
and this species is now only found on heaths in
Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex. The project
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) have is currently promoting a wildlife questionnaire
recently set up a Snakes in the Heather project they would like anyone with an interest in wildlife
which aims to help conserve the smooth snake, to fill in; this can be found at www.surveymonkey.
our rarest UK snake, by building partnerships and co.uk/Snakes-in-the-Heather. So, please take a
co-ordinating conservation effort across southern look and get involved. For more information look
England. Smooth snake’s primary habitat is lowland at www.arc-trust.org/snakes-in-the-heather
Around the county...
Smooth Snakes and Sand Lizards
at Heyshott and Ambersham
Common, West Sussex
Paul Stevens has continued his sterling work at
the adjacent SSSIs of Heyshott and Ambersham
Common near Midhurst, this year. The season
started last March with a habitat management day
at Heyshott Common. For the third year running
a group of almost thirty staff and volunteers from
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group (SxARG),
South Downs National Park, Surrey ARG and
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) tackled
the scrub encroachment on this SSSI heathland.
After a successful morning of scrub bashing, it
was impossible to contain both Sussex and Surrey Paul Stevens shows visitors a juvenile Smooth Snake,
ARGs and they were off looking for herptiles. After Heyshott Common
Photo: Fiona Baker
only an hour they had found plenty of Common
Lizards (Zootoca vivipara), one Grass Snake (Natrix
helvetica helvetica), three Adders (Vipera berus) Common. After two disappointing years of
two of which were black (i.e. melanistic), two rare null results, this year five Smooth Snakes finally
male Sand Lizards (Lacerta agilis) and a rare and made an appearance; two adults, one juvenile
elusive female Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca) – and most excitingly two neonates. This is a great
result! The only reptile of the six British species not result and testament to the habitat management
found was the Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis), which work being undertaken here. The restricted
is known to be present at this site, but decided to distribution of this species in the UK (it is only
stay hidden and keep the team from a full house. found on dry heathland in the south of England),
In July, Paul led a well-attended Bioblitz its rarity and shy nature mean that an emerging
reptile walk on Ambersham Common and found healthy population at this site is fantastic news.
five of the six UK species of reptile, including
several Sand Lizards. The only no-show this
time was unsurprisingly the shy Smooth Snake. Toads in Barcombe, East Sussex
Interestingly, lizards were seen to be returning to
the hectare of heathland damaged by fire in March A residents’ group in Barcombe asked SxARG to
2015 and two neonate Sand Lizards were found help them set up an official toad crossing patrol in
on one of the sand scrapes, dug three years ago. the village. This amazing group saved two hundred
Paul was back in September to continue Common Toads in 2017 and they are all set to go
monitoring for Smooth Snakes on Heyshott this year too, as they are now officially registered
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
4
three Grass Snake and a Slow-worm being found
under the refugia. However, it was the plethora of
tiny toadlets hopping over the reserve that provided
the highlight of the day making it all worthwhile.
Adder at Seaford Head, East Sussex
Chris has also set up, with six indefatigable
volunteers from Seaford Natural History Society,
a reptile survey at Seaford Head to monitor the
adder population there. Fifteen survey visits were
Newly hatched Sand Lizard at Ambersham Common undertaken between February and October 2017 by
Photo: Paul Stevens
the dedicated volunteers, which peaked in mid-July
with twelve Adders being found distributed across
with Froglife and are equipped with torches, hi-vis the site. Common Lizard and Slow-worm were also
jackets, road signs and five toad ladders to put in found in low numbers and a solitary Grass Snake.
the road drains. The Harlands pond toad crossing Given the considerable human impact at this site, the
in Uckfield, run by Jenny Bacon, is also still going results are interesting and monitoring is to continue
strong and continues to rescue toads every year. in 2018. (For more on this see Chris’s article on page 4)
(For more on this see Chris’s article on page 1)
Great crested newts at
Chanctonbury, West Sussex
Great Crested Newts (Triturus cristatus) were also
surveyed by SxARG members at Chanctonbury
Dew Pond, West Sussex in May, with six adults
found during a torch survey in the evening and two
females found in bottle traps the following morning.
Reptiles at Chailey, East Sussex
Following a member’s introductory day with
Fiona Baker in April, SxARG members have been
monitoring artificial refugia (i.e. squares of roofing Great Crested Newt, Chanctonbury
Photo: Fiona Baker
felt) at Redhouse Common, Chailey throughout
the season with Common Lizard, Slow-worm,
Grass Snake and an Adder all being recorded. Recording update and thank you
Grass snakes at Weirwood Fiona Baker, our County Recorder for herpetiles,
would like to extend a massive thank you to all
Reservoir, East Sussex
those who have submitted records via iRecord
A dedicated team of staff and volunteers at Weir during 2017; they have all been verified. Fiona
Wood Reservoir Local Nature Reserve near East would especially like to thank you for all the
Grinstead, led by Chris Drewery and Bob Hastings, fabulous photos and says, ‘Please keep it up!’. Every
have been monitoring the Grass Snake population on record helps us understand more about amphibians
the site for the second year running. They are happy and reptiles across Sussex and beyond, so please
to report that the population is thriving. Chris also keep recording and submitting the records.
ran a well-attended members walk on the reserve in
July, where slightly disappointing weather led to only
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
5
Seaford Head Local Nature Reserve Reptile Survey 2017
Chris Drewrey
generally considered to be easily disturbed animals,
Reptile and Reptile but there is a long history of adder sightings here.
ESTATE AGENTS Around 45 refuges were distributed in February
mainly along 4 transects and 15 surveys were
Des Res for Adders - Seaford Head undertaken between February and October. The
site proved to be challenging, not only because of
Large area of impenetrable scrub allowing basking
opportunities and no unwelcome visitors the large amount of inquisitive human and dog
traffic, but also the astonishing winds which on
Fantastic coastal views of the renowned Seven Sisters
several occasions meant that a refuge disappeared
Plentiful supply of old rabbit burrows for those colder or was found 100m or more from its place.
evenings
Gradually we learned how to use slightly more
Lively local adder scene with likely mating opportunities
.
sheltered spots, or resorted to weighting down.
Surveying began in late February in the hope
of finding early emergers from hibernation. No
luck. By the end of March there were still no
sightings despite numerous adder reports along
the south coast. Eventually there was a sighting,
ignominiously not by us, but by an early morning
birder who reported almost treading on an adder.
However 1 April produced 3 adders one in each of
the transects around the main scrub area. By the
end of May we were up to 8 sightings and the cliff
top transect was now producing 3 of them and
a fourth in the outlying circle. Adder recording
peaked in mid July with 12 animals found spread
over the whole survey area, though seven still
In 2017, 5 hectares of the nature reserve were were close to the scrub edges suggesting the
surveyed. The survey area was a triangular area scrub remained a popular location to hang out.
bounded by cliffs to the south and heading inland It was hoped that we would see a retreat from the
for 500m. The area is typical dry chalk grassland outlying areas into the scrub over the autumn,
and the vegetation varies from short grassland to but in fact sightings decreased rapidly after July.
expanses of dense low
scrub. A dry valley leading
down to the sea bisects
the extensive scrub area.
Approx. 15ha. Four
There are several well
transects and circle
used footpaths including marked in red. Note
the South Downs Way, numerous paths
which means there is an
almost continuous stream
of walkers, runners and
dogs using the area for Cuckmere
Scrub
recreation throughout the Haven
day and every day. Indeed
the reserve is Seaford’s
dog owners favourite
haunt. Such a busy site Vanguard Way
might seem anathema to Hope Gap
diurnal reptiles which are
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
6
Common lizard were also seen regularly
from February to October with peak numbers of
6 on three surveys, but all these sightings were
close to the scrub suggesting that this was their
preferred habitat. Slow worm were found in small
numbers and surprisingly grass snake, given the
lack of water bodies, were seen occasionally. Then
on 2 October the surveyors were pleased to find
all 4 common reptile species in one survey.
The work has shown that Seaford Head has
a thriving population of adders as well as small
numbers of other reptiles. The numbers of adders
suggests that they are not much troubled by the
flow of human traffic, which is probably greater
than anywhere else on the South Downs save
Ditchling Beacon. Indeed the adders found under
refuges did not seem at all perturbed by their
voyeurs, suggesting that they have successfully
adjusted to high levels of disturbance. An enquiry
at a local vets revealed that no dogs had been
presented with adder bites during 2017.
For 2018 the plan is to continue monitoring,
Just good friends! Adder and Grass Snake at Seaford
but on a reduced scale and to survey the western Head
end of the reserve which backs onto housing Clare Mayers
and the golf course. Finally thanks must go to
the doughty Seaford Natural History Society who manages the reserve and allowed us to carry
members who carried out all the surveys with out the survey work. The Trust have recently
precision and great enthusiasm. Thanks also to contracted to manage the site for the next 25 years.
Sarah Quantrill, the Sussex Wildlife Trust ranger
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - 2018 Events
AGMs & Social events 2018 Field meetings
SxARG AGM 2018 We are please to be offering a number of amphibian
2pm Saturday 29 September and reptile group members events this year.
The Unicorn Inn, Heyshott, Midhurst, Please wear stout footwear to outdoor events and
West Sussex GU29 0DL (after the Smooth appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.
snake safari at Ambersham Common). Bring your own refreshments to keep you going.
The nearest train station is Petersfield, so please
get in touch early if you’d like to come along Spotting amphibian and reptiles can be very weather
and need picking up from the station. and temperature dependent. In order for us to be
Please contact georginajudd@outlook.com able to send out information about time changes
should you need any further or cancellations due to weather, members are
information regarding the AGM. requested to email the event leader to express interest
in attending the event. All the relevant contact
details can be found with the event information.
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
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2018 Field meetings contd. to monitor the reptile refugia. There will also
be knowledgeable birdwatchers at the bird hide
Friday 20 April/Saturday 21 April using powerful scopes and undertaking some bird
Chanctonbury Ring Great Crest Newt Survey ringing, pond dipping and access to the wildflower
Chanctonbury Ring, nr Wiston, West Sussex meadows. Numbers to this event are limited.
Run by Paul Stevens.
Contact Paul at paulnatterjack@googlemail.com.
This will involve a walk up the hill to the dew Tuesday 31 July
pond on Chanctonbury Ring for an evening South Downs National Park
torch survey and placing bottle traps, followed Lynchmere Ridge Bioblitz
by an early morning survey to check the traps. Walk led by Paul Stevens.
Contact Paul at paulnatterjack@googlemail.com
SDNP are running a Bioblitz day and Paul will
Saturday 12 May/Sunday 13 May be undertaking a short walk looking for herps.
Rowland Wood
Reptile, GCN And Moth Survey In
Partnership With Butterfly Conservation August (date TBC)
Rowland Wood, nr. Whitesmith, East Sussex Chailey Common Reptile Survey
Run by Bob Foreman & Fiona Baker. Run by Fiona Baker and George Judd.
Contact Bob at bobforeman@sussexwt.org.uk. Family friendly
Rowland Wood is a Butterfly Conservation site Contact George at georginajudd@outlook.com
purchased in 2010 to increase the habitat available A repeat of the survey in June, but more geared
to the small pearl bordered fritillary butterfly. At the for children. Bring the family along to look for
time, this was the only known breeding population lizards, snakes and other creepy crawlies!
of this species in the South East of England. The
wood is being converted from conifer woodland
into broadleaf coppice, heathland, grass and bracken Saturday 29 September
habitats. All good habitats for reptiles. Therefore, Smooth Snake Safari
SxARG are helping B.C. set up an amphibian and Ambersham/Heyshott Common,
reptile monitoring project at this site and this Midhurst West Sussex
weekend event will help develop this project. Run by Paul Stevens.
Contact Paul at paulnatterjack@googlemail.com
Paul continues his monitoring of the
Saturday 10 June smooth snakes at Ambersham Common,
Chailey Common Reptile Survey come along to look for our rarest UK snake
Chailey Common, nr. Haywards Heath, East Sussex species. Followed by the SxARG AGM.
Run by Fiona Baker and George Judd.
Contact George at georginajudd@outlook.com September (date TBC)
Fiona has been monitoring the reptiles at Natterjack Survey
Chailey Common for many years now and this Woolmer, Hampshire
day will be a walk over the common to monitor Run by Paul Stevens
the refugia she has placed in this area. Contact Paul at paulnatterjack@googlemail.com
Not strictly a Sussex site, but Paul has been
monitoring the rare natterjack toad here for
Sunday 8 July several years and asks you to join him to find out
Weir Wood Reptile Survey more about this rare and interesting species.
Weir Wood Reservoir, Forest Row, East Sussex
Walk led by Chris Drewery.
Contact Chris at drewery.chris@yahoo.co.uk. If you are interested in joining any of our
Weir Wood reservoir is a non-public access events please keep your eye out for reminder
nature reserve, which is only open for one day a e-mails from SxARG nearer the time.
year. Join Chris on a walk around the reservoir
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
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Notes from the committee
SxARG 2017 and 2018 AGMs
If you know anyone who would like to
The SxARG AGM for 2017 was held on Thursday 8 join SxARG please ask them to contact
March 2018 at the John Harvey Tavern (JHT), Bear Jess at sxargtreasurer@outlook.com.
Yard, Cliffe High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7
2AN. The committee hadn’t had a social for ages, Data protection and insurance
so the AGM was short, followed by a social drink From 25 May 2018, amendments to the General Data
and chat. It was great to see some new faces there. Protection Regulations 1998 are being implemented.
We are still seeking at least two new committee This means that there will be greater scrutiny of the
members who would be willing to help us run SxARG. way SxARG manages the personal data we hold.
We need a Membership secretary, who would work We have always taken data protection seriously,
closely with Jess (Treasurer) and George (Secretary) but it is now our legal responsibility to respect your
to manage and maintain the membership requests rights as an individual, protect your data securely
and database. This role will not take up a lot of time and be transparent in how we keep your data.
but would mean that Jess doesn’t have to be both the
Treasurer and the Membership Secretary. We also We need to justify:
need an Events Co-ordinator, who would be happy to * Why we have your details
raise the profile of the group - this role doesn’t have to * Where we got them from
be one person, if you could help out at just one event * Where we keep them
near you, it would really help. If you are tempted to * How long we are going to keep them for
run your own event or have a site in mind that you * Check they are up-to-date
would like to survey, or would just like to get involved, * Keep the information safely and
do let us know. Helping with SxARG is rewarding risk assess what could go wrong
and fun, and any time you can give, however
short, would be really appreciated. Thank you. Where we keep your details
The committee have also decided that it At present, all current members full details (i.e.
would be much easier if we set a regular time of full name, postal address and e-mail address) are
year to have the AGM. To this end, future AGMs kept on one spreadsheet held on a single computer,
are to be held at the end of September, where we protected by security software and backed up on a
can celebrate the success of the previous survey storage device that is locked away. The only data
season and have a social event for members. So, if that is shared is your e-mail address, which is used
you couldn’t make the AGM in March, please put for the group e-mail list. This is held by the SxARG
Saturday 29 September 2018 in your diary, as the secretary on password protected devices. If you have
2018 AGM will be held at 2pm at the Unicorn Inn, ever filled out a paper volunteer worker form, it is
Heyshott after the smooth snake safari with Paul. currently stored at the event co-ordinator’s property
and will be shredded and recycled on 1st April
2018. We do not hold any old membership details.
Important changes to your membership
Why we hold your details
It’s that time of the year again and membership We hold your post code to understand the
renewal requests will be going out on 1st distribution of our members across the County
April 2018. The fees have not changed, but which helps plan events etc. and for insurance
our membership procedure is changing to purposes. E-mail information is held so that
comply with new data protection laws. So, we can keep you up-to-date with SxARG and
please read on to ensure you understand these ARG-UK events, activities and information. The
changes and why we are making them. volunteer agreement information is collected
in case of an emergency during an event
Fees are to stay the same for 2018/19: you attend and for insurance purposes.
Single adult membership - £5
Joint/family (two adults at one
address, or family) - £8
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018
9
How long we will keep your details and risk of inadvertent data breaches (as defined by the
how we will check they are up-to-date legislation) is significantly reduced. The breach of
From April 2018, SxARG will need your consent most concern is forgetting to blind carbon copy (bcc)
to hold your full membership details, to send all emails, every time, as this means that everyone
you group e-mails and specify how long we will in the group has your e-mail address and makes
keep them. This consent will require annual anyone losing their mobile phone more of an issue.
review and renewal to ensure it is up-to-date. Once the MailChimp service is running proficiently,
We may achieve this through an automated your e-mail address will be held on the MailChimp
service, as advised by ARG-UK (see below). We secure server (which is set up to ensure your privacy
are looking into this option presently, with a is protected) and on the membership spreadsheet. It
view to finalising the details by 1st April. will be deleted from the secretary’s e-mail account.
So, just to be clear, SxARG will only hold For more information on MailChimp’s
your membership details from 1st April of any GDPR policy please have a look at the
given year until 30th April of the following weblink below. https://kb.mailchimp.com/
year. Therefore, membership details will only be binaries/content/assets/mailchimpkb/us/
held for one year and one month unless they are en/pdfs/mailchimp_gdpr_sept2017.pdf
renewed. If your membership is not renewed
by 30th April, we no longer have your consent Volunteer agreement forms for SxARG events
to hold your details and they will be deleted A signed volunteer agreement form is required
and requested again should you re-join later. if you would like to run any SxARG events or
surveys. It provides us with your emergency contact
Data security and risk assessments details and means that you are covered under the
SxARG agrees that we will only hold your ARG-UK insurance policy for the duration of the
full membership details (as above) in an excel event. Any forms will be held in a SxARG Dropbox
spreadsheet, held on one password protected home account to which only committee members have
computer and one storage device in locked storage access. Privacy information for Dropbox can be
facilities. They will never be held on a cloud device. found at: https://www.dropbox.com/privacy.
Volunteer agreements will be held for the year
MailChimp – Automated e-mail service of membership and reviewed or deleted in April,
We will be using an automated service for concurrent with membership renewals. Details will
e-mails from April and ARG-UK has suggested be checked for accuracy at each event attended.
using MailChimp (www.mailchimp.com). If you prefer for your details not to be kept,
Your e-mail details will then be uploaded you can opt out and either take your form with
to the MailChimp server and all group you after the event or it will be shredded without
emails will be sent through this service. being scanned. This means that you will have to
The service provides an automated subscribe complete a new form at each event you run.
and unsubscribe function for membership renewals,
which should make gaining your consent to use your If you have any further questions about how
data easier for both parties. If you subscribe you your data will be used by SxARG please contact
will be agreeing that SxARG can use your data (i.e. georginajudd@outlook.com. We would also
your email address), through the automated service appreciate your patience while we sort out this
to contact you about SxARG and ARG-UK events, new membership procedure. Thank you.
activities and relevant information. The number
and type of e-mails you receive will not change.
However, the main reason to use this service is
that your e-mail address, and hence your privacy, will
be more securely protected than previously as the
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 201810
Get involved with National Projects
Make the Adder Count Garden Wildlife Health Project
Is an ARG-UK project that aims to encourage ARGUK has been asked to contribute to a new
springtime counts of adders using a standard project, the Garden Wildlife Health Project which is
methology, to build a picture of trends in adder being run by a consortium of wildlife organisations
populations nationally. The results from the first 10 including the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
years of the project can be viewed at www.arguk.org. and the Institute of Zoology (IoZ). We have been
You can also send in any snake or other asked to submit any sightings of diseased/distressed
reptile slough (shedded skin) you find to amphibians and reptiles (not necessarily from
the Reptile Slough Genebank project. gardens) via the website: www.gardenwildlifehealth.
org. Where animals have recently died, there is
an opportunity to have an expert post mortem
eDNA testing for GCN conducted by the IoZ in some cases. They are
particularly interested in (native) reptiles, as so little
PondNet is currently looking for volunteers to collect is known. Therefore, if you find a (recently) dead
eDNA samples to detect the presence or absence of reptile, even if it is not from a garden, then please do
Great Crested Newts in ponds within a 1 km square. contact them as soon as you can via the web-site.
Volunteers are asked to visit ponds which have been If you’d like to get involved in any of these
randomly selected by the Freshwater Habitats Trust projects please go to the ARG-UK website.
(FHT) in England (there are insufficient kits for
you to pick your own sites this year, or to extend
the survey beyond England). FHT will organise Also, don’t forget if you’d like to get involved in the
landowner permissions and send out all the water National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme
sampling kits and survey forms. You do not need please visit their website at www.narrs.org.uk.
a licence to take part in an eDNA survey of great
crested newts for PondNet because there is no
disturbance to the newts or their habitat. For more
details visit the Freshwater Habitats Trust website.
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018Newtsletter Essentials...
Become a Member
Membership is renewable on April 1st each year and the fees for 2018-2019 are:
Single Adult £5
Joint/Family (2 adults at one address, or family): £8
Members will be receiving an email reminding them about
payment details from our treasurer Jess Price shortly.
Send Us Your Sightings
One of the key aims of SxARG is to better understand the distribution of
amphibians and reptiles across Sussex. Unfortunately, we cannot do this
alone and we rely heavily upon people sending in their sightings.
If you have seen any herptiles, be it past or present, we would love to know. Please fill in the
recording form on our website at www.sussexarg.org.uk/send-us-your-sightings.html
Upcoming Events
Please see pages 6 and 7 for our full list of events currently planned for 2018.
Please keep an eye on our website www.sussexarg.org.uk or
follow us on twitter and facebook for further details.
Contact Us
If you have any queries, are concerned about herpetile conservation in your area or
just have an amusing story for the newsletter then we would love to hear from you.
Please contact us via the website at www.sussexarg.org.uk/contact.html
Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group - newtsletter March 2018You can also read
