Hop off the Press

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

Major new project for Scotland!

By Jim Foster - Conservation Director

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.

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.arc-

trust.org/Pages/Appeal/

Two hundred baby sand lizards released at Puddletown Forest

By Anju Sarpal - Outreach & Communications Manager

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

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.