Newts Letter 36 Summer 2004

8/7/2019 Newts Letter 36 Summer 2004

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NEWTSLETTER . AUGUST 2004

Editorial

My first duty as your new editor is to thank Lil Tudor-Craig for all her creativity and hard work overthe years in editingNewtsletterand to wish her well in her new home in Suffolk.

Someone suggested that, as I am new and perhaps known to rather few of you, I ought to introducemyself. Apart from very long standing experience in editing, printing and publishing, I have been madabout wildlife since childhood some sixty years ago.

Over the years I have done much work on insects herp food as you might say and am the diptera(two-winged flies) recorder for East and West Sussex. I also manage the Rare Species Inventory for

the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre following Harry Montgomerys retirement last year.

My interest in reptiles and amphibians took a quantum leap in 2002 when I joined in the East Sussexsurvey for the great crested newt run by Froglife, Southern Water and, I am sure, others. Havingfound a great crested newt in a previously unrecorded site on almost the first dip with the pond net I

became ten times more enthusiastic than before.

Last year I surveyed almost all the ponds in Hastings and, interesting as this was, one of the things thatreally struck me was the very warm reception whenever I knocked on anyones door and asked if Icould investigate their pond. The amphibians and reptiles clearly have a lot of friends out there.

This year, shortly after volunteering to do this newsletter, I went on one of George McCarthys adderdays just over the border in Surrey. For me at 60 this was quite an extravagance, but it proved to bevery well worth it and taught me a huge amount about those wonderful snakes.

I look forward to increasing my knowledge over the years and, hopefully, making a very smallcontribution towards the conservation of our beleaguered reptiles and amphibians. I am veryconscious that this isyournewsletter so always feel free to write, e-mail or phone if you are moved tomake a contribution, if there is some topic you feel we could cover, or even if you believe we need anew editor. I will always be pleased to hear from you. My phone numbers are 01424 870993 and870208 and my [email protected]

Patrick Roper, South View, Churchland Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PF
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Newtsletter No. 36 Summer 2004 Newsletter of the Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group

Terrapin and turtle records

During the past year we have been hearing about odd records from ponds where terrapinshave been seen. The Sussex Reptile and Amphibian Group has agreed that these sightings

should be formally recorded so if any action is required, we know of their locations. TheBiodiversity Record Centre at Woods Mill has agreed to hold these records in a separate file.To those of you who have seen a terrapin basking in, or near to, a pond or lake, can you

please send the following data direct to:

BIODIVERSITY RECORD CENTREWOODS MILLWEST SUSSEX BN5 9SD

Information required: Date of sightingMap reference of water body

Name of pond or lake, if knownOn what material was it resting (i.e. old tyre, tree branch, log etc.)

Herpotrivia

Please dont take this section too seriously. Contributions welcome.

Boiled frog. (Also boiling frog). A city stockbroker term for the process of gradually raisingthe financial pressure on an individual so that they scarcely notice any pain. The term comes,apparently, from the idea that if you gradually heat the water containing a frog it will diewithout either noticing or suffering (I always thought this applied to lobsters rather than

amphibians).

When this term was discussed recently on Radio 4, it was encouraging to hear how muchsympathy was directed towards frogs and how little towards financiers.

Frogmarch. The profile of this expression was raised in May 2004 when Piers Morgan,former editor of the Daily Mirror, was said to have been frogmarched out of thenewspapers building. Originally frogmarching meant transporting the miscreant facedownwards between four people, each holding a limb (i.e. like a frog sprawled out among thewater lily leaves) but later it more frequently meant pushing someone forwards with their armup behind their back. I have no information on which alternative was used with Mr. Morgan,

though I suspect it was neither.

Slaw-cripple - Cornish dialect (not Cornish language) for the slow-worm

Poets Corner

Robert Herrick (1591-1674) seems to be one of our few English poets to have mentioned theslow-worm (even if he did think they could bite). In The Night-piece: To Julia he says:

No Will-o'-the-wisp mislight thee,

Nor snake or slow-worm bite thee;But on, on thy way

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Not making a stay,Since ghost there 's none to affright thee.

Shakespeare also mentioned them, in an equally uncomplimentary way, as blind-worms:

You spotted snakes with double tongue,Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;

Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong;Come not near our fairy queen.

Most intriguing though is this from The Which's Balladby William Bell Scott (1812-1890):

Each one in her wame shall hideHer hairy mouse, her wary mouse,

Fed on madwort and agramie,--Wear amber beads between her breasts,

And blind-worm's skin about her knee.

Were slow-worm skins really used as garters?

Still, lets end these lines to slow-worms with something positive. How about this fromGeorge MeredithsA Garden Idyl:

And still along the garden-runThe blindworm stretched him, drunk of sun.

Herpetileflora

Herb robert, Geranium robertianum. In Gloucestershire herb robert was once known assnake flower and was never picked because it was thought snakes would emerge from thestems. At Portland in Dorset the plant was called snakes food.

Vickery, R. (1995) A Dictionary of Plant Lore. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

The Old Brickfield at Seaford

Information about the Old Brickfield Site

The Brickfield at Seaford (O.S. grid reference TV472996) occupies a former tidal inlet, cutoff to the north and south by the railway and Marine Parade embankments respectively. Thesite is surrounded on two sides by housing and to the south is separated from the sea by themain promenade road, Marine Parade.

Its value in conservation terms is recognised in the designation of S.N.C.I. (Site of NatureConservation Interest) and is exemplified by the rich diversity of flora and fauna present.There are also two habitats present which are recognised as of national importance throughthe U.K. Biodiversity Action Plan (From Rio to Sussex and the U.K. B.A.P. 1999). Theseare remnant salt marsh, and vegetated shingle.

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The site will be owned and managed by Lewes District Council, with the aim of maintainingand enhancing the habitats present for the local community to use, for informal recreation, foreducation and as an open space.

Habitats Present

Vegetated shingle: south bank, adjacent to Marine Parade. This is a nationally importanthabitat and a target B.A.P., regionally and nationally. (Sussex B.A.P.) There is a well-developed plant community containing an abundance of thrift, and some sea heath.

Remnant Saltmarsh: Also a B.A.P. target habitat, but the condition is very poor due to thesite no longer being inundated by the sea. It is drying out significantly, and is succeeding to agrassland community. Some salt marsh species remain.

Rough Grassland: The mixed sward height is largely a result of varying conditions of windand shelter, and a network of informal footpaths across the site. The shorter sward tends to be

richer in floral diversity, but the longer grass is home to many reptiles, such as grass snakesand slow-worms. There are also a host of small mammals, which in turn provide food for akestrel seen daily on site. Larger mammals include foxes.

Bankside vegetation: Dominated by bramble and blackthorn, this habitat is predominantlyto the north of the site. The banks on the east and west are less densely vegetated. The denserscrub is a good habitat for small birds.

Rough concrete structures and eroded areas: The open areas provide a habitat for reptiles,such as common and sand lizards, as well as slow-worms. They are also important areas forinvertebrates.

Habitats adjacent to the site of wildlife importance: The south facing railwayembankment is covered in dense scrub, interspersed with large mown glades, instigated forthe first time winter 2004, by LDC and Network Rail, to create basking areas for reptiles. Thisis not accessible to the public, as it is owned by Network Rail.There is a brick culvert beneath the railway, which provides a link to a large pond on the otherside of the railway, thought to be a breeding site for toads, frogs and newts. (permission willneed to be sought to survey the pond, as it is not owned by Lewes District Council).

Wildlife Importance of the Brickfield

The range of insects includes butterflies (surveyed last summer for the first time). There are anumber of rare insects likeLixus scabricollis, a provisional Red Data Book weevil, and

Longitarsus parvulus, a flea beetle listed as Nationally Scarce, Category A.

As previously mentioned, small mammals are present providing food for predatory birds andanimals, but there is currently no survey data for these.

Reptiles on the site include an abundance of slow-worms, grass snakes, common lizards andpossibly adders. Among the amphibians there are smooth newts, common frogs and a smallbut unquantified population of common toads.

Much survey data is lacking, and this situation needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

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We would really appreciate any help with surveying reptiles and amphibians whenever youcan the sooner the better.

History of the site

Little is known of the early history of the site The first visual record is a drawing by H. H.Evans (1849-1926) dated 1896 and showing a stormy day with high tide flooding over the oldroad into the Brickfield. On the hill behind, known as Hawth Hill, is a line of houses knownas the Old Coastguard Cottages. These were demolished in 1950. The new CoastguardCottages were built in 1905 and are still standing today.

The name 'brickfield' is because the site was a place where bricks were made. However, inthe drawing there is no sign of a brick kiln or any other structure with the exception of the oldroad. Old maps show the area as an outlet for a small stream.

Recently an 1892 letter has been found in the Martello Museum stating that there were indeedkilns there and that the sea would flow over the old road hitting the hot kilns and sending up acloud of steam. It also claims that the bricks made there were used to build the MartelloTower in 1809. These are both Yellow Stock from London and Sussex Red made from localclay.

An article of 1926 in the Sussex County Magazine by A. H. Diplock says the Sussex brickswere made by hand as they could not withstand machine pressing.

Since the its purchase by Lewes District Council, the area is managed as a Nature Reserve bya Conservation Ranger and there are established public footpaths. He works closely with thelocal residents who have formed a group called The Friends of the Old Brickfield. TheFriends meet regularly with the Ranger to exchange views and help maintain this site.

If you are interested in discussing the management of this site, or you would like to getinvolved, please contact the Community Ranger on 01273 484408.

The next meeting ofThe Friends of the Old Brickfieldtakes place at The Downs LeisureCentre, Seaford on Tuesday 5th October 2004 at 7.00 pm. Anyone is welcome to attend.

David and Eve Taylor , Friends of the Old Brickfield Group.

Exploring East Sussex

East Sussex County Council are looking for walks or events that they can advertise in theirmagazineExploring East Sussex. Anything to do with reptiles and amphibians is bound to bewelcome.

The deadline for 2004 was 12 July. But why not let the scheme organiser, Vicky Pannel, havesome ideas for next year?

Vicky is the ESCC Walks and Rides Coordinator at Lewes and can be contacted for an event

or walk form on (01273) 481654.

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Exploring East Sussex have issued a list of a selection of environmentally-focussed events.Some of those that may be of particular interest to SARG members are:

17 September to 13 November 2004 ESCC Wood Season. A series of events tocelebrate woodlands throughout the county.

4 October 2004 World Habitat Daywww.unhabitat.org 30 October 2004 Make a Difference Daywww.csv.org.uk 2 February 2005 World Wetlands Day 22 March 2005 World Day for Water April 2005 National Home and Garden Month From 17 April 2005 National Wildlife Week

The minister responds on ponds

Ms Bella Davies from the School of Biological and Molecular Sciences at Oxford BrookesUniversity exhibited a poster at the House of Commons reception on 15 March 2004

organised by SET for Britain. (SET is an Oxfordshire-base organisation that promotes currentscientific research among opinion formers in Parliament).

Ms Davies poster on how similar waterbodies contribute to freshwater biodiversity obviouslymade an impression as it was referred to later in a parliamentary debate on the EU WaterFramework Directive.

Hansard quotes Sue Doughty, MP for Guildford, as saying, We learned yesterday from oneof the scientists at the marvellous exhibition that there is a large regional diversity in theecology of ponds, almost more than in large lakes and rivers. Pockets of rare species arefound in small areas, which is why small water areas are so important. Networks whether

pools, streams or marshes must have proximity if they are related ecologies. It would beinteresting to see whether we can investigate that further.

The Minister for the Environment, Elliot Morley, agreed that he too would like to see theprovisions of the water framework directive extended to embrace smaller areas of water.

Ms Davies was delighted at the outcome as the Ponds Conservation Trust, with which she hasbeen working, has spent a great deal of effort trying to get smaller waterbodies, especiallyponds, incorporated into the Water Framework Directive.

(From:Research Forum, Vol 1, issue 2. May/June 2004: page 5. Further details:[email protected]).

A dearth of toads

Toads are reported by Jenny Bacon and others as being all over the shop this spring. Thisties in with the recent report by University of Sussex researchers Carrier & Beebee (2003).Their research looked at the toad population over a fifteen-year period, both in London andacross south eastern and central England and this shows a worrying downturn in population.

The explanation seems currently to be unknown, though fragmentation of the population and

inbreeding have been suggested. Whatever the cause, as many observations on comparative

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toad numbers over the years will be welcome and of help in getting a better understanding ofthe problem.

Susan Young and Trevor Beebee have also recently written a research report on this topic forEnglish Nature (Young & Beebee, 2004).

Carrier, J-A & Beebee, T. J. C. (2003) Recent, substantial, and unexplained declines of thecommon toadBufo bufo in Lowland England. Biological Conservation111 (2003): 395-399.

Young, S. L & Trevor J. C. Beebee, T. J. C. (2004) An investigation of recent declines inthe common toadBufo bufo. English Nature Research Reports, Number 584. English

Nature, Peterborough. (Available on line).

And an abundance of slow-worms?

Some anxiety was expressed this winter on the effect last years hot, dry summer may have

had on slow-worm populations. Their numbers at many sites, however, seem to be buoyantwith many juveniles indicating that last years breeding season was a good one.

I have seen dozens of them on sites in Hastings and they seem to be doing better in my gardenin Sedlescombe than for many years. Ed.

PUBLICATIONS

Reptiles: Guidelines for developers.

This is a very welcome and well-produced booklet that will be much in demand among those who

are considering, or having to deal with, the reptiles of development sites.

The text will be easily understood even by those who have little knowledge of our British speciesand the current legislation is clearly set out and explained. Many may be (pleasantly) surprised athow tough some of the existing laws are. The threat of large fines or even imprisonment fortransgression will undoubtedly discourage those who say lets get on with site clearance and payany penalties if we have to it will cost less than delay.

While the ferocity of the penalties may be welcome, I do have some reservation about frighteningdevelopers off altogether. Some areas of neglected urban land may, for example, hold largenumbers of lizards and slow-worms that are, effectively, trapped on an island site. If the costs of

exclusion fencing, translocations schemes and other precautions are too steep the site mightsimply be left and will quite quickly become scrub and secondary woodland of a type wherereptiles will not thrive. Many developers will nowadays, however, work with ecologists to

produce long-term mitigation strategies that may result in a temporary fall in the numbers of thespecies in question but is far more likely to secure their long-term success.

As a free and attractively produced document I can see that many copies will be presented, I hopenot too gleefully, to developers and their associates as well as to less snake and lizard friendlystaff in national and local government agencies.

The booklet is available from English Nature offices in Peterborough or Lewes.

It can also be downloaded as a PDF file from:http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/Reptileslft.pdf

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Status of the adder and the slow-worm

English Nature has published a report summarising last year's survey of adder and slow-wormstatus in England, undertaken by Froglife. You can get free copies of this report from English

Nature's enquiry service (tel: 01733 455100/ 01 /02), and it can be downloaded as a PDF from

their website at:

www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/546.pdf

The full reference is:Baker, J., Suckling, J. & Carey, R. (2004) Status of the adderVipera berus and the slow-wormAnguis fragilis in England.English Nature Research Report no. 546.

EVENTS14 October 2004. An artists view of Sussex: landscapes and their wildlife. A talk by

David Bradford, one of our SARG Committee members. Uckfield Natural History Society,Uckfield Civic Centre. 7.30 pm. SARG members welcome at a reduced fee of 1.00(normally 2.00).

Regional Conference Sunday 14th November in East Grinstead

SARG are hosting the South East regional meeting of Herpetofauna Groups ofBritain & Ireland (HGBI) this year at the Meridian Hall, East Grinstead on Sunday 14 th

November. This is the best chance to meet other SARG members and talk to like-mindedpeople from across the south east (and beyond) so make sure you book early.

Talks include what will be a thought provoking "Current challenges in UK reptile andamphibian conservation." by Jim Foster from English Nature. Sussex's resident herp. expertand author Trevor Beebee will be presenting his findings on toad decline (and rise?) basedon one of our own sites here in Sussex with the help of Sue Young from Kent Amphibian &Reptile Group.

Paul Bruce will speak about heathland regeneration. Mike Frost will tell us about the waySouthern Water are leading the way in great crested newt surveying on their properties. ChrisTodd from the South Downs Conservation Board will be speaking and Henri Brocklebankwill speak about the excellent Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre. There is also a talk from

Matt Shardlow from Buglife (like Froglife except for bugs!) called Phoenix from the flames -wildlife conservation on brownfield sites. Matt will be recounting his experiences with

brownfield sites and explaining his success at snatching prime development sites fromdevelopers and leaving them for wildlife.

This all promises to be a great event so make a note of the date - we hope to see you there.

A booking form is included at the end of this newsletter

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ERE BE DRAGONSMark Elliott writes about his adventures looking for nests of the

Siamese crocodile in Thailand

Wherever you are in the world, if you are working with crocodiles1, the chances are, you will

be working alongside an Aussie. The Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme is noexception and is run by an Australian called Boyd Simpson. Boyd had invited me along on anexpedition to find and document the first wild nest of the Siamese or mountain crocodileCrocodylus siamensis.

Fortunately for us, and unlike the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus, which is also foundin SE Asia, it is not known to attack humans, although it can grow up to 10ft long. What wedidnt know however was whether the Siamese crocodile would defend its nest aggressively.If anything is going to test the good nature of an animal, it is rummaging through its nest andmeasuring its eggs.

The Siamese crocodile is probably the rarest of the 23 species of crocodile worldwide. Theyare listed as critically endangered and were described as effectively extinct in the wild until5 years ago when a small population was discovered in Cambodia. It is only a since 1997 thatit has been safe for international biologists to work in the country. Even now, all field teamsneed to be accompanied by a policeman armed with an AK47 and we were no exception.Exactly why, was never quite clear, although the illegal logging in large parts of themountains is carried out or controlled by the army and it would clearly not do for us tostumble across such activities!

The reason why the crocodiles have fared so badly is mainly the collection of animals from

the wild for crocodile farming. Although supposedly protected under CITES, the skin is ofvery high quality with a large crocodile fetching up to $1,800 (in a country where a policemanis paid around $20 a month). In farms the Siamese crocodile is often hybridised with thesaltwater crocodile to produce a faster growing and larger skin which is used to make boots,

bags and belts etc.

The biologists that work on the species estimate that there may now be only 2-300 left in thewild. A large proportion of these animals appear to be in two significant populations, both ofwhich are in south west Cambodia. There may be other groups that have yet to be discovered

but as Boyd stressed, if we lose these two populations, then they are in real trouble.

The populations are both near to smallupland villages where the people still

practice a form of animistic Buddhismwhich means that people respect andeven revere the crocodiles. Whether thiswould be different if they had startedeating people, nobody knows, but thefact that they do not appear to do somust have helped crocodile - humanrelations.

The people who first lived in the area

respected and honoured the crocodiles, and

never caught or killed them. If anyone failed

to abide by this tradition, he would be

insulted by the villagers and cursed to death

by a forest demon

Horm Khuon (Veal Ta Phu villa er) 2002

1Crocodile here includes all members of the Crocodilidae family which also includes alligators and caimans.

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The other thing that they have in common became abundantly clear as the trip progressed.Both populations are in very remote parts of Cambodia. The logistics of actually findingcrocodiles in such a remote area, and then trapping and extricating them has obviously helpedto protect them from hunters, as well as from other biologists.

The two areas are in the middle of the Cardamom Mountains, named after the cardamomseeds that are collected from the forest floor and used as a spice in many Asian dishes. Themountains cover an area of 20,000 km which is roughly four times the size of all of thenational parks of England and Wales combined. They have up to 4 metres of rainfall peryear, and are covered with lush tropical rainforest.

We were looking for nests in the river Areng population in early May when the wet season isjust getting going. Access to this remote area is by boat, up the adjacent river and then overthe mountains in between. The mountain trip is a three hour journey on the back of amotorbike, although the length of time is very dependant on the weather and how much of it

you have to walk. The routes varies from wide sandstone tracks to dry rocky stream beds andmeanders through some fantastic forest. Some of the river crossings are particularlyinteresting and I was very glad we were making the trip at the start of the wet season ratherthan the end. As well as the leeches that managed to grab on as we passed, the unexplodedmortar shell next to the track and wild elephant dung hinted at treats in store for other intrepid

biologists.

Although no active Siamese crocodile nest had ever been found in the wild, an old nest hadbeen discovered next to an oxbow lake the previous year and this is where we were heading.We arrived in a village about 8km downstream at dusk and secured some hammock space forthe night.

The journey upriver the next morning took us through some spectacular forest with wreathedand pied hornbills and long tailed macaque monkeys in the trees around us, and kingfishersflitting up and down the river. It wasnt long before the boat driver from the village pulled upagainst the bank and assured us that we were now at the nearest point to the first oxbow lakethat we had wanted to check out. This was not the one where the old nest had been found

before but Boyd, myself, a translator, the policeman (with his gun) and the boat driver nowdisembarked eagerly into the forest. After about 30 minutes with the boat driver hacking hisway through the forest at the front, we came across the oxbow lake.

A crocodile nest is a pretty untidy affair. It is made of leaf litter and sticks from the forestfloor, scraped from the surrounding area into a pile about 75cm high. In the process ofsweeping up this pile of leaves, the mother crocodile clears the surrounding forest floor sothat it is bare earth, and it was this that drew my attention to the big pile of leaves in this

particularly dense bamboo thicket. I called Boyd over. To my untrained eyes this was just abig pile of leaves, although it was in an area where we were actually looking for a big pile ofleaves. The confirmation that this was indeed the nest of the Siamese crocodile came throughthe expression on his face rather than anything that he said. However as someone who hasdismantled and examined the contents of over a thousand saltwater crocodile nests inAustralia over the past decade, his next thought was where is the mother.

She was nowhere to be seen in the surrounding forest and fortunately this nest was some 15metres from the waters edge, allowing us a little more time to escape should she decide to

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launch herself from beneath the surface of the lake. In fact we never saw her, which I was alittle disappointed about, although pretty relieved as well.

Carefully the layers of leaf litter were removed from the pile, revealing 16 off-white eggs,which were oval shaped, ranged from 80.5mm to 89.7mm in length and weighed up to 135g.

In order to incubate the eggs the chamber was deep in the nest keeping the humidity at over90% and the temperature at 30.5c.

The top of each egg was marked with a pencil before it was removed to ensure that itsorientation was not changed while it was very carefully weighed and measured as this wouldhave killed the eggs. However once the measurements and photographs had been taken, eachwas carefully replaced into the chamber and the nest reconstructed.

With a certain degree of euphoria, we recommenced the search for other nests, and late in theafternoon came upon the site where the old nest had previously been seen on another oxbowlake. Once again we struck lucky and found the second nest which was a less formal affair

constructed over a fallen tree trunk. This nest also contained 16 eggs; a strange co-incidenceconsidering that in captivity Siamese crocodiles are thought to lay up to 50 eggs and saltwatercrocodiles also have an average clutch size of between 40 and 60.

The Cambodian Crocodile Conservation

Programme is a joint project between the

Cambridge based Fauna & Flora

International (FFI) and the Forestry

Administration section of the Cambodiangovernment. If you represent an

organisation and feel that you would like

to sponsor the crocodile work in

Cambodia or any of FFIs other

international projects, please speak to

Liesje Birchenough on 01223 579484.

Whether that means that Siamese crocodiles will not recover very quickly once protectionmeasures are in place we dont yet know. However by the end of the day we felt that we hadreally advanced our knowledge of thiscritically endangered reptile, and returned tothe village with a great sense of satisfaction.The more we can find out about the

behaviour and habits of this species and itsreproductive biology the better able we areto protect it. As well as now having a betteridea of its reproductive capabilities,compared with other crocodile species, weare now also able to describe the habitatswhere nests are likely to be found. Thismeans that they can be protected and future

population surveys can be more accuratelytargeted.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2004The SARG Annual General Meeting was held at Arlington Reservoir Fishing Lodge on Wednesday, 7April 2004. The secretarys report and income and expenditure account for the year ended 31December 2003 are as follows:

Secretarys Report 2003

2003 was very much a year of consolidation following the sad loss of our dear friend Wendy Bowers inJune. We intend dedicating the new membership handbook, which is being worked on presently, to hermemory. And thanks to S. E. Water it was also a year of change with a move of venue from EnglishNature H. Q. in Lewes to the more aquatic environs of Arlington. I am sure the amphibians at leastapprove!

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Since January the question of National Park boundaries has occupied much of our (or to be rather moreaccurate, Janet Claydons) time. We have been pushing hard to get the Tidemills area between Seaford andNewhaven included in the designation, and special thanks here must go to Barry Kemp, Lil Tudor-Craig,Janet Claydon and all those who have worked here for 15 years to get to where we stand today with theOuse Estuary Project which should benefit the great crested newts. January also saw our former committeemember, Dan Hurgood, leaving for a new (trout) post in London and Sue Elsom joining as membership

Secretary and Treasurer. Thanks to both.

February saw the end of the Garden Pond Leaflet Survey, all our records going via SARG recorderGlynnan Barham to Henri Brocklebank at the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, where a meeting washeld on 15 February. A national HGBI meeting in this month was attended by Mike Barker, Barry Kemp,Mark Elliott (who is now surveying in the Far East) and Louise Bardsley. Louise finally got her book onponds off the production line, but due to work commitments has had to ease back on the committee workfor the time being. We hope she will be able to rejoin once conditions improve.

In March there were several pond surveys including one at Lancing College when Alf Simpson had anunexpected dunking. A small display was held at the Arundel Wildlife and Wetlands Trust on 24

th.

April heralded in a very large members event at Drusillas Zoo and thanks again must go to Janet Claydonand Linda Burnham, ably assisted by Jenny Bacon and Dianne Simms, for ensuring this was a hugesuccess. There was also an Uckfield Environmental Conference and talk.

May saw us all poking around in the huge woods at Spey House in Mayfield and what a marvellous timewe all had. Bishopstone Fayre and Bentley both followed soon afterwards. Thanks again to Linda.

June was pond surveying in Friston, July Castle Hill Nature Reserve Survey work, August RotherfieldNature Reserve.

In September our long-standingNewtslettereditor, Lil Tudor-Craig, moved back to her home county inSuffolk and a very big thanks for all her sterling work.

There have been many planning matters to contend with this year:-

Environment Agency Cuckmere Haven Estuary flooding. River Ouse/Adur abstraction plans.

Southern Water wastewater treatment site for Brighton. A27 Glynde Marshes, Beddinghamrailway bridge. Henfield, Eastbourne, Newtimber Hill near Pyecombe and West Durringtonhousing schemes. Alf had two personal battles over great crested newts at their centre.

OVER THE YEAR

Support has been requested from Froglife for their adder and slow-worm status questionnaire (Ebernoerecords sent off); from West Sussex County Council for help at A283 Wiston Road Tunnel; SussexWildlife Trust have provided assistance to help purchase torches for pond surveying. Frog crossing signshave been provided for Ferring. A SARG web-site has been set up thanks to Barry Kemp. Janet Claydonhas done a complete SARG library update and review. Welcome to two new committee members EileenHarris (minutes) and David Bradford (photography etc.).

We have kept in touch with many other groups and organisations and have regular swaps of information,leaflets and magazines. These include Sussex Wildlife Trust; BTCV (insurance) trees, shrubs, tools,training courses, stone walls, hedge-laying; conservation holidays; SDCB National Park; Froglife greatcrested newts; Surrey ARG, Chailey Commons Society Jessie Leaming, ranger; Rocksavage FieldStudies Council Guides; Froglife Snake Advice Sheet.

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AIMS FOR 2004

Review of toad crossing sites in Sussex look at as many ponds as possible and exclude ones notnow being used, add new ones and concentrate on good ones idea of toad declines and how tostabilise.

Teaching/educational pack.

Handbook.

Host South East HGBI meeting (last one at Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks in November).

SUSSEX AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE GROUP

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2003

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Dear Members

You are invited to come to

The South East Regional meeting of the Herpetofauna Groups of Britain & Ireland

On SUNDAY 14TH

NOVEMBER 2004

AT THE MERIDIAN HALL IN EAST GRINSTEAD, WEST SUSSEX

The cost of the day will be 7.50 which will include coffee & or tea and a

buffet Lunch.

To reserve your ticket please complete the slip below & return along withyour cheque payable to SARG. Many Thanks

Sue Elson, SARG Treasurer

30 Beckett Road

Worthing

West Sussex BN14 7 EX

SE Regional Conference

Name ..

Address

.

.

.

Telephone number & email address

.

Organisation

Documents

Newts Letter 36 Summer 2004