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
