HopGossip! Autumn/Winter 2020
In this issue… Pool frogs take a leap forward Garden Dragon Watch - Top spots! Winter Feature & Build a Hibernaculum
Contents Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is a national wildlife charity committed to conserving amphibians and reptiles and the habitats on which they depend.
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Hop off the Press
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Citizen Science & Monitoring
Get in touch… Bournemouth - Head Office 744 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 6BZ
Telephone 01202 391319 Email enquiries@arc-trust.org
www.arc-trust.org Patrons: Earl of Malmesbury Chris Packham Iolo Williams Lucy Cooke Chair of Trustees: Jonathan Webster Chief Executive Officer: Dr Tony Gent Conservation Director: Jim Foster
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ARC News.
Garden Dragon Watch. ARC volunteers in the spotlight. Team Toad!
In the Field
By Hook or by Crook(sbury). Game Changer.
10 Winter Feature
Where do frogs go in winter? Amphibians in icy weather.
12 Events
ARC Friends’ Day 2020.
14 Projects
A creative first year for Snakes in the Heather.
15 Projects
Brilliant Bryums.
16 North Wales
A valuable partnership.
17 Fundraising
Parley Common Land Purchase. Administration & Finance Manager: Helen Wraight Thank you to Animal Friends! Administration & Finance Officer: Martine Watkins 18 Tail Enders Administrative Support Officer: Angela Reynolds Amphibian Conservation Officer: Yvette Martin Build a hibernaculum. Communications & Outreach Manager: Anju Sarpal Meet the Team - James AndersonConnecting the Dragons Project Officer: Peter Hill Barr. Connecting the Dragons Project Officer: Mark Barber Did you guess the answers to Database & GIS Officer: Dr Rob Ward Mystic Toad’s Herp Answersmash! in IT Project Officer: Johnny Novy the last issue of Hop Gossip? Dorset Field Officer: Richie Johnson Dorset Field Officer: James Anderson-Barr If you would like to contribute to Dorset Field Officer/Health & Safety Officer: Richard Sharp the next edition please contact Dorset Field Officer: William Emmett-Mair Angela Reynolds at Dorset Seasonal Field Officers: Stuart Handyside, Phil O’Keefe, Nathan Evans angela.reynolds@arc-trust.org. & Gary Ritson Friendship & E-Communications Officer: Kim Boughey Fundraising Coordinator (part time consultant): Atul Srivastava Cover photo: Who is GCN Conservation Officer/Species Coordinator: Dorothy Driver missing hugs? Common Gems in the Dunes Project Manager: Fiona Sunners frogs © Chris Dresh (ARC) Gems in the Dunes Project Officer: Andrew Hampson North Wales Officer: Mandy Cartwright Hop Gossip is edited and Reptile Conservation Officer: Nick Moulton designed by Angela Regional, Training & Science Programmes Manager: Dr John Wilkinson Reynolds. Senior Dorset Field Officer: Chris Dresh Senior Ecologist - Projects: Paul Edgar Please note: The views Senior Reserves Manager: Gary Powell expressed in this newsletter South Midlands Newt Conservation Partnership Project Officer: Andrew Buxton are not necessarily the Snakes in the Heather Citizen Science & Operations Officer: Ben Limburn views of Amphibian & Snakes in the Heather Public Engagement & Education Officer: Owain Masters Reptile Species on the Edge Coastal Treasures Project Development Officer: Paul Kirkland Conservation but those of Species Programme Manager: Dr Karen Haysom the authors. Wealden Field Officer: John Gaughan Wealden Field Officer & Volunteer Coodinator: Ralph Connolly Wealden Field Officer: Bryony Davison Amphibian and Reptile Wealden Reserves Manager: Rob Free Conservation is a Wealden Seasonal Field Officers: Ellie Stradling & Tom Stenning Registered Charity. England & Wales Charity number. 1130188. Scotland Charity number. 2 SC044097.
From the Editor’s desk
C.E.O.’s Corner Dr Tony Gent
Early in November Natural England, the Government’s adviser for nature conservation in England, launched the Nature Recovery Network Partnership – a new partnership of organisations from different sectors that will work together to carry out actions for nature. Speakers from Natural England and from Government Welcome to the latest issue of Hop pointed enthusiastically towards a range of policy and legislative tools Gossip! being developed in England that will provide new opportunities for making a positive difference for wildlife – aiming to achieve the I am sure, like most of the people I Government’s pledge to leave the environment in a better state for know, you are all feeling the strain of future generations. The new Environment Bill, which should become a long and restrictive year. law in Spring 2021, and the 25 Year Environment Plan collectively aim to strengthen key components of our legislation and environmental Although for the most part I am policy. This includes placing stronger requirements on public bodies confined to my home, I am starting for looking after nature by reinforcing the statutory Biodiversity Duty, to see and feel the early signs of spring, and with it hope for what the by requiring Local Nature Recovery Strategies to be produced and by coming months will bring. I can’t wait introducing a requirement for providing a ‘net gain’ for biodiversity for the days to lengthen and get out from development. There is also the increasing awareness around the importance of having good information about wildlife and a drive to in to the garden. If living through a pandemic has taught me anything, it see this information collected and used in decision making. We are seeing a greater and more active commitment by many different has highlighted more than ever that sectors - landowners, developers, accountancy firms, railway the environment is so important for operators - and Natural England is looking to secure this support to our mental health and well being. take the new Partnership forward to address the needs of the country’s diminishing wildlife. The places we live have been our world for so long now. We may feel However, alongside these ‘green initiatives’ there is an ever louder grateful that we have the time to enjoy our gardens and local spaces call for development and economic growth. Funding for ‘Green or disappointment that they aren’t as Recovery’ has been dwarfed by accelerated funding for building and infrastructure projects; proposed reforms to the planning system and ’wild’ as they could be. 2021 is a the so called ‘Project Speed’ bring uncertainty around how we might year of hope, expectation and see the conservation of biodiversity considered alongside massive change. We can all try to welcome nature to our doorsteps. It can be as threats to wildlife habitats. Clearly there is a challenge to see if these apparently conflicting ambitions can be reconciled – and it appears simple as a native plant outside the Government thinks they can. At ARC, we are actively engaging with front door, a hanging bird feeder, a these discussions and with new approaches to nature conservation patch of wild lawn, a pond, even a hibernaculum in the garden. I will be that are linked with development, to see where we can influence these making one this year to enhance my to ensure good outcomes for amphibians and reptiles. More importantly, our involvement with such projects is not an acceptance garden for wildlife and you can that they can justify reducing standards or risking wildlife populations make one too. You can find the or important habitats, or that they can work for all species or in all instructions on page 18. circumstances. Our aim is to inform and promote best practice and to offer criticism where required. You can also take part in our Garden Dragon Watch survey this As we move away from the ‘Transition period’ to a full exit from the year. See who made the top 3 in European Union, we need a concerted effort across all of the 2020 on page 6 and extend the countries of the United Kingdom to strive for better environmental classroom to your garden by standards than were set by European legislation. Moving away from involving your children or grandchildren. There is nothing quite the European regulation will provide the opportunity to develop more wildlife friendly environmental land management funding mechanisms, like the enthusiasm and excitement but it also takes away the recourse to the European Courts that of a child and watching that spark ensured the Government could be held to account for environmental ignite for a life long appreciation for shortcomings. nature. Hang in there. The dark days of winter are almost over. We will be back in the summer with the next edition of Hop Gossip! Until then, look out for each other and stay safe! Angela Reynolds Hop Gossip Editor angela.reynolds@arc-trust.org
So, we are being presented with a new array of opportunities and potential partnerships that offer us hope, but at the same time we are facing significant new threats and challenges. It certainly feels that the stakes have never been higher. ARC will be working with other environmental organisations to do what we can to maximise the benefits for amphibians and reptiles and improve the habitats they depend on and to increase opportunities for people to enjoy nature. There is a lot we could be looking forward to – but we need to make sure these new ideas really do work for nature.
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Adders for all! By Dr Pete Minting - Scottish Project Contractor We are now offering free online access to a selection of adder photos, as part of our efforts to try and protect the welfare of this species by reducing disturbance. Wildlife photographers have kindly donated some of their adder photos to our free online library. These photos are free to use for educational or creative projects which portray snakes in a positive light. The striking zig-zag pattern of the adder is an excellent source of inspiration for wildlife art. If you zoom in closely, you will be able to see how amazingly intricate the body of an adder is, from the keels (ridges) on each scale, to the vibrant colours of the eye. We have included highresolution images which should result in good quality prints, if printed. To see the library and read our terms and conditions, visit our website: www.arc-trust.org/free-adder-photo-librar-intro Photo: Male adders ’dancing’ © Rodger McPhail
Hop off the Press!
Major new project for Scotland! By Jim Foster - Conservation Director
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ARC is thrilled to announce a major new project. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a new collaborative programme will work on urgent action to save more than 40 of Scotland’s most vulnerable coastal and island species, including the natterjack toad. Species on the Edge is a bold and ambitious partnership project by a consortium of eight organisations (Scottish Natural Heritage, ARC, The Bat Conservation Trust, Buglife, The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife and RSPB Scotland). The project will catalyse action along Scotland’s coasts and islands, and involve communities in the conservation of some of our rarest species.
The project, which began in October, will combine expertise and resources to develop a four and a half year programme for seven project areas, from the Solway to Shetland. ARC’s Species on the Edge Coastal Treasures Project Development Officer, Paul Kirkland, is leading on plans to help the rare natterjack toad, alongside other species occurring on the Solway coast.
Pool frogs take a leap forward! By Jim Foster - Conservation Director ARC is delighted to announce the pool frog is to receive a major boost in East Anglia. ARC has been awarded significant funding through the government Green Recovery Challenge Fund to deliver conservation action for this iconic yet critically endangered animal. Working with a range of partners, until March 2022, ARC will consolidate the existing pool frog population through captive rearing of tadpoles, restore pool frog breeding ponds, train volunteers to survey for pool frogs, undertake specialist monitoring, bring pool frogs to a wider audience through commissioned videos and plan future pool frog reintroductions. The “Recovering the pool frog, England’s rarest amphibian” project will employ a new specialist team to work with partners to take the next leap forward for pool frogs. We will be communicating the results of the project from spring 2021.
Pool frog © Jim Foster (ARC)
Emma’s marathon for ARC By Angela Reynolds - Editor Congratulations to ARC Friend Emma Debben for completing the New Forest Marathon in September and raising £815 to help support ARC’s work! Coronavirus restrictions meant that the event was considerably delayed but eventually went ahead as a closed event. Emma decided to run her local marathon to help ensure that the amphibians and reptiles she loves will still be around for her children to enjoy for years to come, including her favourite reptile, the slow worm. “I want to say a huge thank you for all the help and support from everyone for donating and cheering me on. The support from ARC has been amazing, I highly recommend fundraising for them! The Marathon was tough and oh so hilly! But the event was extremely well organised, all the runners were responsible with social distancing throughout the course, with traffic lights on the start line and a queue and overtaking system any Brit would be proud of. I managed to finish in 5hrs 4 minutes, which I am really happy with (my goal time was 5hrs)”, said Emma. Planning your own challenge? Visit www.arctrust.org/Pages/Appeal/
ARC has been working with Marwell Wildlife and Forestry England in Dorset releasing more than 200 young sand lizards back into the wild at Puddletown Forest following an exceptional breeding year at the zoo. Dorset is a stronghold for this protected species but the wildfire at Wareham Forest in May 2020, which burned for more than two weeks, destroyed over 220 hectares of vital wildlife habitat. A team of volunteers were able to rescue and relocate some reptiles in the days after the fire but hundreds of sand lizards were impacted. The fire, which was thought to be caused by a disposable barbecue or camp fire, burned for more than two weeks and took four million litres of water to extinguish. Working in partnership with ARC and supported by Natural England, Marwell Wildlife has contributed more than 2000 young lizards to 22 release sites across Southern England, continuing in September 2020 at Puddletown Forest. ARC’s Reptile Conservation Officer Nick Moulton, said: “ARC have been working in partnership with Forestry England to monitor reptile populations in Puddletown Forest since 1990. The newly restored heathland allows existing native reptiles to flourish, some of which were rescued during the fire and has also provided the opportunity to reintroduce sand lizards to the area.” “The restoration of heathland has contributed towards restoring Thomas Hardy’s historic landscape of Egdon Heath and also enhanced the over-all conservation status of the area, encouraging the return of rare plants and birds including the Dartford warbler and Nightjar. Keeping the forest sustainable also supports the local timber economy and recreational space to enhance people’s well-being, so the continued management and monitoring of the area has wide reaching benefits.” You can read the full story on our website here: https://tinyurl.com/y2u8wrxy
Juvenile sand lizard © Chris Dresh (ARC)
Invaluable boost to ARC's core aims By Atul Srivastava - Fundraising Coordinator The Garfield Weston Foundation has made a grant of £20,000 towards the core costs of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. This grant will help support ARC’s overarching aims to help the future of native amphibians and reptiles in the UK. We are delighted that the Garfield Weston Foundation has chosen to support ARC. Making a grant at this scale for core funds is particularly valuable, as larger grants are often restricted to specific projects. Charities also require core and unrestricted grants for a wide range of reasons, including overall expansion, and continuing staff posts in between projects supported by restricted funds. The Garfield Weston Foundation has set an excellent example and made a real difference to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the UK. We aim to expand ARC in a financially sustainable and responsible way, and although this may be difficult in the current circumstances, support from the Garfield Weston Foundation will make a big difference to ARC as an organisation, to the species that we protect and to the people who benefit from interacting with nature. If you represent a Trust or Foundation and would like to discuss supporting ARC, please email: atul@arc-trust.org
What’s new with the ARC crew? By Angela Reynolds - Editor ARC says hello to new faces and so long to another. Paul Kirkland, former Director of Butterfly Conservation, joined ARC in October as Species on the Edge Coastal Treasures Project Development Officer (See news story on page 4). You will hear from Paul in future Hop Gossips! Paul Edgar, former Amphibian and Reptile Specialist for Natural England has joined the team as Senior Ecologist for Projects. As a former employee of The Herpetological Conservation Trust, we are pleased to be able to welcome him back. Finally, we are sad to report that Ralph Connolly, Weald Field Officer and Volunteer Coordinator, will be leaving us in mid-February to join the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Although sad to be leaving, Ralph is keen to further his knowledge of countryside management across varied habitats. His enthusiasm and input across all teams will be missed.
Hop off the Press!
Two hundred baby sand lizards released at Puddletown Forest By Anju Sarpal - Outreach & Communications Manager
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Citizen Science & Monitoring Garden Dragon Watch By Amy Harrison - Species Team Placement Intern & Dr Rob Ward - Database & GIS Officer
Citizen Science & Monitoring
In the last issue of Hop Gossip! we brought you news of the launch of our Garden Dragon Watch Survey. The data collected by Garden Dragon Watch will help ARC to find out more about the reptiles and amphibians that people find in their gardens and the habitats that benefit them. This will help inform our conservation work and the advice that we give to households, in both rural and urban communities, that provide a home for amphibians and reptiles.
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Since we went live we have seen a great number of entries from across the UK. With most of the country being restricted to staying at home during the pandemic, many of us have only had our gardens as a green space to explore, so spotting your residential amphibians, lizards and snakes may have become a lockdown pastime. At the close of 2020 ARC has had a total number of 780 records submitted to Garden Dragon Watch, with a total of 1,668 animals spotted (not counting all the tadpoles!) The most common species that was spotted was the common frog (Rana temporaria), with 193 sightings. Coming in second place with 109 counts is the smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) and third is the slow worm (Anguis fragilis) with 89 counts. All the species numbers can be found on the Garden Dragon Watch page on our website https://www.arctrust.org/garden-dragon-watch. With Spring just around the corner, it won’t be long before our gardens come alive again. Keep your records coming in and if you haven’t signed up yet, give it a go! You can find out how to take part on the website using the link above. We are aiming to fill in any blank spaces on the map. Areas such as northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in need of filling up, so let your friends know, get involved and start recording! Photo top right: Common frog © Alison Copeland, Middle left: Smooth newt, Bottom right: Slow worm © Chris Dresh (ARC).
Citizen Science & Monitoring Team Toad! By Yvette Martin - Amphibian Conservation Officer ARC is very lucky in that we have a large number of very dedicated volunteers who carry out a mixture of habitat management tasks and species survey work. Habitat management tasks go ahead regardless of the weather and our volunteers are outside come rain or shine. Species surveys are usually carried out during the day but for some of the more rare species, surveys need to be carried out at night. It is often quite difficult to find volunteers who are happy and willing to carry out night-time surveys, Regena Coult is one volunteer who stands out. Keen to gain further information about the status of natterjack toads at a small site in Surrey, Regena set herself the task of identifying every animal within the population. Using a method of Capture, Mark, Recapture, Regena has completed numerous night-time searches over the past 3 years, often staying out until the early hours of the morning. The data captured by Regena opened up new knowledge about how natterjack toads are using the site and just how many animals are present in the population. It might sound simple but where populations are small and sites are large it can take a lot of time to find and identify individual animals. Regena’s persistence with data collection and dedication to the project are truly inspirational but she did not stop there. Keen to help with natterjack conservation efforts, Regena most recently volunteered to support the digitisation of historic natterjack data. Historic data digitisation is an issue that many NGOs struggle with, but it is an important issue to address because it can be difficult to quantify declines or increases in the range and distribution of a species without the digitisation of historic data. ARC would like to take this opportunity to thank Regena for all of the hours she has put in to supporting our conservation efforts both in the field and at home. If you are interested in finding out about volunteer opportunities at ARC, please visit www.arc-trust.org/ Listing/Category/volunteer. If you would like to help with the digitisation of historic natterjack toad data please contact me at Yvette.martin@arc-trust.org.
Hamdah the natterjack toad © Regena Coult.
ARC Volunteers in the Spotlight A look at some of ARC’s volunteers and their invaluable contributions.
Regena Coult Started volunteering with ARC: 2018 Favourite natterjack toad: Hamdah stands out simply because she is so massive (80mm, 90g!) Regena is a regular and popular face on the ARC habitat management volunteer circuit in the Weald. Over the last three years she has also committed to an immersive and intimate relationship with the activities of the elusive natterjack toad. Often found on a dark warm spring night, with torch in hand, Regena shines a light on the noisy romancing of the UK’s rarest amphibian. Her dedication to the collection of data on this species is nothing short of remarkable. On the site Regena monitors in Surrey, there resides a population of toads which have been identified and named individually. It takes a very keen eye to master this skill, and in return provides that extra level of understanding how individuals utilise their territory and as a population. Regena has also volunteered her time to digitise a huge amount of historical natterjack data, the importance of which should not be underestimated. The data is now easily accessible and will assist with assessing declines, increases, distribution and range across the years in much more detail than ever before.
© Ralph Connolly (ARC).
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In the Field By hook or by Crook(sbury) By Ralph Connolly - Weald Field Officer & Volunteer Coordinator If you came to the virtual Friends’ Day this year, you will have seen footage of the natterjack toad ponds on ARC’s Crooksbury Common site and the quite specific open habitat requirements of this endangered species. The natterjack population on Crooksbury is small and doesn’t breed every year but last year we were delighted to record three distinct spawning events. Unfortunately as our climate changes, the increasingly long drought periods we are experiencing can have drastic consequences for natterjacks. Many of the shallow, warm pools that they favour for spawning are drying out too quickly to enable them to complete their metamorphosis from tadpole to toadlet. All three spawnings on Crooksbury required intervention by licensed ARC staff to top up the water levels or translocate the tadpoles to one of the larger ponds onsite and in one case the tadpoles were lost. To counteract this, the three smallest saucer-shaped ponds have been skilfully re-profiled by one of our contractors with a small excavator. This will increase their capacity whilst retaining the gentle sloping sides which maximise the amount of shallow warm water for natterjacks to develop quickly in. We have also fitted the ponds with liners to further improve their water retention and were generously supported in this by funding from the Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group.
In the Field
Monitoring of the ponds by ARC staff and volunteers will continue over the coming years and hopefully we will be seeing natterjack toadlets scrambling out next summer!
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Photo top left: 4 legged natterjack tadpole. Bottom: Excavator re-profiling pool © Ralph Connolly (ARC).
In the Field Game Changer By Jim Foster - Conservation Director
Pheasant © Chris Dresh (ARC)
‘Government’s about-turn on pheasant release licensing is a promising development, though concerns over reptile impacts remain,’ says ARC’s Conservation Director, Jim Foster. These extracts, taken from Jim’s blog, make for some interesting and thought provoking reading. You can read the blog in full on our website at www.arc-trust.org/ news/game-changer On 30th October, Defra announced that from 2021 releases of pheasants and red-legged partridges on or close to European protected sites in England will need to be licensed. This about-turn by government is a response to a legal challenge by Wild Justice. Indeed, there has been a flurry of news on gamebirds recently. August saw the publication of a “rapid evidence assessment” of the ecological consequences of gamebird releasing, commissioned and jointly funded by Natural England and the British Association of Shooting and Conservation. RSPB published a significantly updated review and refreshed its position on gamebird shooting in October. A peer-reviewed paper assessing the evidence for effects of pheasant and red-legged partridge releases on wildlife was also published in October. That’s a lot to digest, and I’ll just comment on some specific reptile issues, without attempting to cover the broader nature conservation and socioeconomic issues, crucial though they are. The notion that reptiles might be harmed by some gamebird releases has long been a concern for ARC and its predecessor The Herpetological Conservation Trust. This concern has been generated by our own observations, and through liaison with volunteers, scientists and other land managers. Most discussion on the topic centres on pheasants as predators of reptiles. After all, some birds are known to take large numbers of reptile prey – as an extreme example, in New Zealand the government is deploying chickens (incidentally, in the same Order as pheasants) to eradicate introduced reptiles. Pheasants certainly do eat British reptiles. But then, so do plenty of other animals; the crucial point is to determine whether this additional predation pressure has a populationlevel effect on reptiles, either alone or when interacting with other factors.
Moreover, it’s plausible that indirect effects might be equally or even more important than direct predation. These include the effects on invertebrates, vegetation, and the local abundance of generalist predators. The release of such a large biomass of birds surely has some impacts on ecosystems, of which reptiles are one component. Alongside this, of course, are the potential positive effects of gamebird management on reptiles – primarily the creation and maintenance of hedgerows and other habitat features. Assessing the net impact of potential positive and negative effects is complex, as acknowledged in the papers cited above, especially in relation to the spatial extent over which impacts occur. In addition, any impacts on reptiles are likely to depend on a range of factors, such as the number of birds released, the location of release pens in relation to reptile distribution, and the quality of habitat for reptiles in the vicinity. There needs to be a rethink about how to ensure gamebird releases don’t unduly impact on reptiles across the UK generally. Not all gamebird releases have potential for adverse impacts on reptiles, but existing mechanisms don’t appear to be effective for assessing - and if necessary modifying or preventing - those that do. Further research is warranted, and ARC has plans for how this could best be conducted, with a focus on assessing population-level effects. The more evidence we have, the better we can target mitigation and restriction. But that research would take substantial resources and several years to conclude. In the meantime I think we need a more urgent look at the practicalities of reducing the potential harms and optimising the benefits of gamebird management as far as reptiles are concerned. The fact that we now have published concordance among key stakeholders about the risks to Britain’s snakes and lizards means this is tantalisingly feasible.
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Winter Feature Where do frogs go in Winter? By Jim Foster - Conservation Director As the days get shorter, we’re often asked “Where do frogs go in the winter?” Like all amphibians, common frogs are “ectothermic” – that is, they can’t generate their own body heat and instead their body temperature depends on that of their surroundings. Because of their physiology, they become less active as the temperature reduces. Winter poses a particular problem – it’s too cold for frogs to be active, so they need to find somewhere to sit it out. In Britain, common frogs largely hibernate on land. They usually find somewhere underground, or tucked inside a structure that sits on the ground surface. Hence, frogs might overwinter in a mammal burrow, or inside a compost heap. The important thing is that it’s a place where the frog will be buffered against extreme cold, and won’t lose too much water. Having permeable skins, frogs are at risk of drying out if they spend long in a place with no moisture. Some adult male common frogs spend the winter in ponds, secreted among leaves and mud at the bottom. This is a risky strategy, as smaller ponds can freeze over and frogs can sometimes die through a lack of oxygen. But clearly for some frogs the benefit of being first in the pond when females arrive in spring, means the risk is worth taking. Outside gardens, common frogs often hibernate in larger ponds and those with some inflow, which means freezing is less likely. Hibernation ends when the temperatures start to rise again. For adult common frogs this triggers a rapid exodus from their hibernation quarters to breeding ponds. That’s normally February to March across much of Britain, although there is wide variation depending on local weather conditions.
Winter Feature
All British amphibians and reptiles hibernate, though there are differences in where, when and how they spend this challenging winter period. Indeed, “hibernate” may be a slightly misleading term. Some scientists prefer the term “brumation”, to indicate that the animals simply enter a period of low metabolic function and activity, but not in
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the way that mammals overwinter in a very deep sleep. Hence reptiles and amphibians may in fact be active intermittently during hibernation – studies show they adjust their position slightly through winter, and on warmer days they can emerge from hibernation for brief periods of activity. In some areas, newts and frogs spend the winter in ponds and simply lead a slow-moving existence before spring speeds things up. As our climate changes, amphibian and reptile hibernation will be affected. There is evidence that the hibernation period is shortening, and animals may be more
active too, expending precious energy reserves. Wetter winters and resultant floods may create a higher risk of drowning for animals that overwinter in normally flood-free areas. We have a lot more to learn about the net effect of all this though. It’s possible that having a longer active season could be beneficial in some respects. If you have a garden or manage a nature reserve, you can help by ensuring there are suitable sheltered places where animals can spend the winter undisturbed. Our Habitat Management Handbooks give advice for reserve managers, and our “Dragons in your Garden” leaflet, free to download from our website, should be useful for those with an outdoor space or garden. If you are lucky enough to have amphibians or reptiles in your garden or allotment why not take part in our Garden Dragon Watch survey. You can find answers to other frequently asked questions on our website FAQs section.
Amphibians in icy weather With the freezing temperatures around the country early in 2021 we have had a lot of enquires about ponds freezing and how this will affect our amphibians. Here we’ll try to answer some of your most frequently asked questions and put your mind at rest. In Britain, amphibians largely hibernate on land but some common frogs may lie dormant at the bottom of ponds in winter. Occasionally, in particularly icy spells, frogs can die of 'winterkill', where toxic gases (released in the pond through natural decomposition of dead leaves) cannot escape from the pond due to the layer of ice. Though this can be upsetting to pond owners this phenomenon is largely natural and will only affect a very small percentage of the local frog population. Amphibians can breathe through their skin. Providing that there is sufficient oxygen in the water, they can survive for long periods beneath the ice. A traditional solution has been to create a hole in the ice to allow gas exchange with the air. Recent research suggests that this may be ineffective, and growth of plants and green algae may be more helpful, as these oxygenate the water, even under ice. A hole in the ice probably won't make much difference to the oxygen level in the pond but it may help air breathing creatures which can swim to the surface for air. It will also give other wildlife somewhere to drink. Clearing snow from the surface of a frozen pond may help, allowing more light to enter, hence increasing oxygen production from submerged plants and algae. Never pour hot water on to the ice or use chemicals or salt. Similarly, do not be tempted to smash the ice as this can damage pond liners and plants. The best way to create a hole in the ice is to leave a ball or other floating object in the pond which can be removed to leave a hole after it freezes. Finally please do be very careful around frozen ponds. Although it looks solid the ice can be deceptively thin - it won’t hold much weight. Cleaning snow from the ice will make the pond more visible to anyone nearby. Our native amphibians are well adapted for our weather conditions and although this very cold weather can be concerning they will undoubtedly muddle through and will soon be taking advantage of spring sunshine and spawning once more. Page 10 - Photo top right: Common frog © Chris Dresh, Middle left: Compost heaps are often used for hibernation © Richard Sharp, Bottom right: Log piles make great shelter © Chris Dresh. Page 11 - Photo top right: Sweeping snow from frozen pond © Kim Boughey, Middle left: Frosty garden © Paul Kirkland.
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Events ARC Friends’ Day 2020 By Catherine Mitson - British Wildlife Assistant Editor British Wildlife’s Assistant Editor Catherine Mitson joined the supporters of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) for their annual Friends’ Day. With exclusive site visits and Q&A sessions on the agenda, the 2020 Friends’ Day was set to be a great event. Here, Catherine shares with us some of her highlights. Thankfully, with the existence of Zoom, the ARC Friends’ Day 2020 could go ahead, albeit not its usual format. The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust planned a jampacked Saturday afternoon to give their supporters the opportunity to see what ARC has been up to and to learn more about Britain’s native reptile and amphibian species.
Events
Woolmer Forest is one of the most extensive and diverse lowland heathlands in Hampshire and home to 12 out of our 13 native reptile and amphibian species, including the rare smooth snake and sand lizard. Excitingly Blackmoor Heath, a 20ha site in Woolmer Forest, has become ARC’s newest nature reserve after a year-long fundraising appeal. Once introduced to the ARC team (most of whom were sporting fun animal-themed virtual backgrounds) the first video began, and we were taken on a virtual tour of the new reserve.
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A priority at Blackmoor Heath is to reintroduce the natterjack toad, extending its range in Hampshire. Reducing tree cover and creating ponds are a few examples of the work being undertaken here to support a reintroduced population of natterjacks. Not only is this vital management for natterjacks and many other heathland species, this has also led to the exposure of bronze age barrows, or burial mounds – Blackmoor Heath is not only important for wildlife, but historically too. Next, Field Officers Ralph and Bryony took us to Crooksbury Common in Surrey, an important breeding site for natterjack toads. Bordered by a pine plantation, one of the major tasks here is to prevent the encroachment of pine trees, which if left unmanaged, would soon smother valuable heathland habitat. In the hope to restore good numbers of natterjack toads, the ARC team are also busy creating and maintaining large shallow ponds, critical for natterjack breeding and egg-laying, as well as providing shelter for
Events natterjack adults during the cold winter months. We were also shown key natterjack identification features, such as the distinctive yellow stripe that runs down the middle of their back. Moving away from heathlands, we suddenly found ourselves on the dunes of Aberdovey, Wales to discover all about the Connecting the Dragons project. ARC staff and volunteers have been working hard to create exposed sand patches on the dunes here (socially distanced of course) to provide the reintroduced population of sand lizards with basking spots and egglaying sites, as well as making next year’s surveying much easier! Perhaps not common knowledge to many, there are actually two races of sand lizard: the Northern dune race and the Southern heathland race. The morphological differences between the two races were described, highlighting the distinctive identification features. For instance, the males of the Northern dune race tend to be much lighter when they first emerge from hibernation compared to those of the Southern heathland race. The final site visit video took us to Dorset. Designated as a Special Area for Conservation and a SSSI, Great Ovens, an ARC nature reserve in Wareham Forest since 1996, is a truly special site. Similarly to Crooksbury Common, a surrounding pine plantation and the threat of scrub invasion means that a sensitive management programme is necessary to maintain the important mix of wet and dry heathland. This is not only beneficial for the amphibians and reptiles on the site, including adders, smooth snakes and sand lizards, but also for other species such as Dartford warbler, silver-studded blue, and scarce chaser. This was a common theme – habitat management for reptiles and amphibians will have a positive knock-on effect for other species, particularly in declining heathland habitats. Finally, Public Engagement Officer Owain Masters took us out to find the rare smooth snake. Owain was successful in his search, and was able to show us a male smooth snake curled up safely underneath refugia (note that a license is required to monitor or handle this species). He went on to describe ARC’s ambitious four-year long Snakes in the Heather project. Working in partnership with landowners, site managers and wildlife conservation charities, Snakes in the Heather endeavours to conserve the smooth Snake across its range in southern England, as well as the lowland heathland habitat on which it, and many other species, depends.
Throughout the Friends’ Day there were many opportunities for questions during the Q&A panel sessions; we learnt even more about ongoing ARC projects, the management of ARC’s nature reserves and the ecology of UK reptile and amphibian species. Many of the attendees were keen to know what they could do to help Britain’s reptiles and amphibian species and the ARC team enthusiastically provided us with information on how to get involved through the website. You can watch the videos from the event on ARC’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ARCTrust Page 12 - Photo top right: The event was broadcast via Zoom © Catherine Mitzon, Middle: Blackmoor aerial shot © ARC, natterjack toad © Chris Dresh (ARC). Page 13 - Top right: Volunteers at Aberdovey © ARC, Middle right: Owain checks tins for smooth snakes © ARC, Bottom left: Owain with smooth snake © ARC.
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Projects A creative first year for Snakes in the Heather By Ben Limburn - Citizen Science & Project Operations Officer & Owain Masters - Public Engagement & Education Officer The ARC led Snakes in the Heather project is now in its second year, and what a first year it has been! If you aren’t aware of the project just yet, Snakes in the Heather, which began in August 2019, is a large-scale, partnership project to conserve Britain’s rarest reptile, the smooth snake, throughout its range in southern England. The first few months of the project were very busy setting up systems to manage the project, communicating with project partners and beginning the education and events programmes. However, business as usual came to a halt in March of this year as the COVID 19 pandemic altered our ability to deliver the work as planned. With face-to-face training, meetings and outreach off the table we got creative! “I have been working hard behind the scenes developing a new recording platform for wildlife surveys. We have been testing it this year and look forward to sharing it with survey volunteers in the coming years. I have also been working with key partners and volunteers, doing survey site set up and some socially distanced training for existing volunteers.” - Ben “I have created lots of digital education content including worksheets, blogs and videos. I have also delivered lessons about reptiles to schools, university and community groups via Zoom and Microsoft Teams… platforms which many of you will be very familiar with after this year!” - Owain
Projects
We have led a number of events for small groups outside of the full lockdown periods which include some Dragon Finding Quests (guided walks!) and, most recently, our Halloween on the Heath events. The Halloween on the Heath events dispelled common myths about heathland wildlife including spiders, beetles, frogs, snakes and lizards. We have also been working with our fantastic volunteer and field teams in Dorset and the Weald to manage heathland habitat for the smooth snake. (These Habitat Task days have been carefully planned to ensure they are COVID safe).
Over the winter months, we will continue our behind the scenes work to create the resources necessary for delivery of the project over the coming years. We do not yet know how creative we will need to be in 2021 but will endeavour to keep both our survey and monitoring and outreach programmes running whilst being mindful or staff, volunteer and public safety. We will be updating our website and events pages regularly so please visit our project page to hear about progress and up-todate plans. If you have any questions about the project or would like to book digital outreach please do not hesitate to email Ben or Owain on Smooth.Snakes@arc-trust.org or Education.Officer@arc-trust.org respectively.
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Photo top right: Ben on a survey, Middle left: Bournemouth Young Volunteers on a habitat management task (pre-Covid), Bottom right: Dragon finding quest © SitH (ARC).
Projects Brilliant Bryums By Fiona Sunners - Gems in the Dunes Project Manager ARC's Gems in the Dunes Project Manager, Fiona Sunners tells us more about one of the projects key species, the often overlooked, tiny and very rare Sea Bryum. Down beneath your feet, often unnoticed are some of the rarest species in the country! Sea Bryum is one of them – a member of the bryophyte family; it enjoys the open sandy conditions of newly forming sand dunes. Unfortunately, the amount of this habitat is reducing; as a result of this numbers are declining too. In 2013, a survey found Sea Bryum along a 2.5km stretch of the ‘green beach’ between Ainsdale and Birkdale, however as the newly formed dunes and pools become more vegetated and fixed, conditions change and become more unsuitable meaning these tiny plants are out-competed. During the Gems in the Dunes project we have been working with volunteers to get a better picture of how widespread they actually are. So far we have found Sea bryum is now confined to a 370m stretch at the southern end of the ‘green beach’, and even over the short time the project has been running we have seen increasing amounts of vegetation pushing them southwards and reducing their range. Careful future management could help them, for example scraping off the top layer of dense vegetation can open the landscape up enough to allow them to recolonise from spores that have lain buried in the sand. Volunteers observed this in an area that was scraped before the project started. The scraped areas can also benefit other species such as the natterjack toads. It’s not all doom and gloom though as this year we have recorded Sea Bryum at the southern end of the ‘green beach’, in an area that last year was pretty much still the beach. Spores have obviously been blown southwards landing in this more suitable habitat, and made the most of the open damp conditions. We have also recorded an expanse of them around one of the natterjack breeding pools, slightly inland of the ‘green beach’ – watch out they are spreading!
Sea bryum is not the easiest to identify, but a few key features do distinguish it from the other bryums on the coast – take a look at our species identification sheet https:// tinyurl.com/bftb-seabryum-speciesinfo. We have also been on the lookout for another bryum species - however this is proving to be a bit of a tall order! All we have to go on is the last record from way back in 1933, which was in Freshfield and doesn’t even pin point the sand dunes! If you fancy having a look for bryum calophyllum, take a look at our species guide https://tinyurl.com/bftbmattedbryum-speciesinfo for its key feature.
Projects
The only other place on the coast they are found is at Devil’s Hole in Formby. Here a small colony remains, although as the vegetation increases here too, we could very well see it disappear very soon.
If you think you have spotted either of our bryums, get on your hands and knees and take a picture and send it with a grid reference or screenshot of your location to gems-in-the-dunes@arctrust.org Make sure your photos are as clear as possible as this will help us to identify it! Photo top right: Sea Bryum, Middle left: Survey volunteers © Fiona Sunners (ARC)
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North Wales A valuable partnership By Mandy Cartwright - North Wales Officer For the past 7 years, Coleg Cambria, one of the highest performing colleges in Wales, have brought a variety of groups out to our nature reserves in north east Wales to help manage the habitat for great crested newts and other important aspects of our local wildlife; the results are a real boost for the biodiversity of the area. The tasks include clearing aquatic vegetation from ponds, scrub control to manage and enhance terrestrial habitat and also maintaining site infrastructure. We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you. We are very grateful for all the help each and every student has contributed to helping us manage the nature reserves in north east Wales. Each year many students from Coleg Cambria arrive full of enthusiasm and energy and the desire to help maintain their local wildlife habitats. Their help is invaluable and the partnership is one that we all look forward to continuing in future years.
Hayley Burkey, Coleg Cambria said, “The students gain a lot of experience and valuable teamwork skills from volunteering with ARC and it links in well with their vocational studies. The students enjoy being at the nature reserves and learning about the British wildlife and for many sparks a passion in conservation.”
North Wales
Photos: Students hard at work during a habitat management task © Mandy Cartwright (ARC)
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Fundraising Parley Common Land Purchase By Atul Srivastava - Fundraising Coordinator
Parley Common is an area of 107 hectares of heathland in Dorset. It is a home to all six UK native species of reptiles, three species of native amphibians, and many birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other species. ARC owns some of the site already, and is now fundraising to buy an additional 19.37 hectares at Parley Common which is now for sale, and to ensure it continues to be managed as a nature reserve in future. Our target of £206,620 includes the land purchase itself and associated costs. At the time of writing we have raised £72,500 offline so far, and launched a JustGiving campaign: www.justgiving.com/ campaign/ParleyCommon
Thank You to Animal Friends! By Atul Srivastava - Fundraising Coordinator Thank you to Animal Friends Pet Insurance, which made two donations to ARC in 2020. Firstly, in response to an application for funds, they granted £4,000 towards the costs of running our events online as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fundraising
© Chris Dresh (ARC)
We hope readers are able to donate at this link, and share it with others who may also be willing to do so. If you would like to discuss making a major gift towards this appeal, please email: atul@arc-trust.org
We were then delighted to be included in the Animal Friends Christmas Appeal 2020, which involved a public vote. Thank you to those of you who voted for ARC! This led to a second donation of £3,000 towards ARC’s core costs. If you are connected with a company that shares similar aims with ARC, and may benefit from a partnership with us, please email: atul@arc-trust.org
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Tail-Enders Build a Hibernaculum Hibernacula is the name given to winter refuges that animals use to hibernate inside. They take the form of underground or above ground chambers and can easily be added to your garden, in a carefully considered location, by following these simple steps. If you decide to give this a go in the late winter months be careful not to disturb any creatures who may still be hibernating. You will need:
Bricks
Rocks
Logs
Spade (if digging the underground version)
Sticks Seeds and/or turf
Drain pipes - cement is preferable to provide a grippy
surface. If using plastic, gently roughen the inside using sandpaper leaving no sharp edges.
Branches
Step 1
Step 2
Choose a sunny, flood free spot. If the soil is dry, with good drainage, dig your hole about 50 cms deep and at least a metre wide. 1.5 metres is preferable. If you have clay or wetter soil you will need to create your structure above ground, ideally on a gentle slope to avoid saturation.
Fill the hole securely, with the materials you have gathered, to avoid collapse. Leave lots of gaps and spaces for animals to crawl in to and slot your drain pipes in, making sure the pipe entrance is at ground level. Cover the hole with soil and pile up to about 50 cms to make a mound. Scatter your seeds or lay turf across the top.
Tail-Enders
If constructing above ground, make a secure pile with your materials, leaving gaps for animals to crawl in to and entrances around the outside, not too big or it will be too draughty. Cover the mound generously with soil, lay turf across the top and scatter your seeds.
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Step 3 Add some amphibian and reptile friendly features to your garden, if you haven’t already, to welcome your guests.
Tail-Enders Meet the Team
James Anderson-Barr - Dorset Field Officer What does your job involve? Between September and March, when our nature reserves are effectively in hibernation, I work solidly on practical habitat management tasks in a team of six, predominantly removing scrub and pine from our heathland to keep it open, helping preserve it for the years ahead.
As spring arrives, the wildlife becomes more active and our native herps begin to emerge. The practical work eases off and my role becomes more focused on leading events and public engagement. Throughout the summer I conduct wildlife surveys, tree safety surveys, mentor work experience students and any other general reserve work that colleagues need assistance with.
What is your most memorable experience ?
For the spring and summer months, not especially. I could find myself out before 7:30am conducting reptile surveys one day, out after dark wardening sites the next, or working events at weekends. It is very dependent on the day and the work load. The winter is more structured. Come rain or shine, the team meet on site, wherever that may be, every morning for 9am. We start by discussing the management plan laid down for that site, what scrub is vital to leave in, potential hibernacula’s etc, find some safe burning sites, make external partners aware of our location and then get stuck in until we achieve what we have set out to do.
What do you enjoy most about working for ARC? The variety. I feel very lucky to have been doing it for the last six years . It’s that variety and somewhat unpredictability of the job that keeps me very content.
Did you guess the answers to last issue’s Herp Answersmash? Question Specialist study of the skin and its diseases? Answer: Addermatology
Question Indian dish of curried meat, typically lamb, in a rich tomato-based sauce? Answer: Common Frogan Josh
Personally, because I don’t remember seeing my first snake or lizard when I was young, I’m now enjoying the opportunities I get to show my daughter wildlife first hand, and see her reaction. Last summer I had to go out to survey some trees, I took her along with me and after we’d finished we went for a walk out on the heath. We saw loads of stuff (tracks, poo, prints), but the highlight was finding a smooth snake, and seeing her face light up as she looked closely at its eyes and tongue and scales, it made me very proud. She is now an expert spotter of lizards, particularly the wall lizards near the beach and loves leading her mates on wildlife walks to find them!
What is your favourite herp? That’s a tough question but I do have a special affection for adders. They are species that never fails to make me go, ‘Ooooh!’ Question Children’s TV series in which celebrities read out stories? Answer: Natterjackanory
Question Coffee-flavoured Italian dessert? Answer: Palmate Newtiramisu
Tail-Enders
Is there a typical day?
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Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is a national wildlife charity striving for a world where amphibians and reptiles are safeguarded for future generations. With over 30 years experience in the wildlife sector we are committed to the conservation of frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards and the habitats on which they depend.
To find out more or to support Amphibian and Reptile Conservation contact: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 744 Christchurch Road Boscombe Bournemouth Dorset BH7 6BZ Tel: Email:
01202 391319 enquiries@arc-trust.org
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Become a Friend! Join Amphibian and Reptile Conservation today and help us give a voice to the UK’s amphibians and reptiles - saving species, improving habitats and enhancing lives in the process. It costs as little as £24 a year.
Join online: www.arc-trust.org/support Or call 01202 391319 (9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday)
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is a Registered Charity: England & Wales number 1130188. Scotland number SC044097.
