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Newtsletter Number 45, October 2009 2009
This is your newsletter so feel free to write, e-mail or phone if you are moved to make a contribution, or if there is some topic you would like us to cover. As editor I will always be pleased to hear from you, though space in the newsletter is neccessarily limited.
Patrick Roper, South View, Churchland Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PF. Tel: 01424 870993 and 870208, e-mail: [email protected]
F
Dear All,
of the 21st Century (nearly decade into the new !). In a couple of months time, not only will SARG have a new
of the Natural History Museum’s OPAL grant but we will be
out as ssible by email. Similarly, if we have your email address we can send you
F
Dear All,
of the 21st Century (nearly decade into the new !). In a couple of months time, not only will SARG have a new
of the Natural History Museum’s OPAL grant but we will be
out as ssible by email. Similarly, if we have your email address we can send you
rom the Chair rom the Chair
SARG is on the cusp SARG is on the cusp millenniumwebsite, courtesymillenniumwebsite, courtesyususing that site to distribute information on news and events. If you received a paper copy of this Newtsletter then we do not have your email address. We will of course still be sending paper copies to those of you that do not have email, but we would prefer to send as many
ing that site to distribute information on news and events. If you received a paper copy of this Newtsletter then we do not have your email address. We will of course still be sending paper copies to those of you that do not have email, but we would prefer to send as manypopodetails of the new SARG website when it is up and running. So please drop a quick email to [email protected]
details of the new SARG website when it is up and running. So please drop a quick email to [email protected] and I will add you to the email list. 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, we anticipate that this willbe a great year for SARG with refreshed communication and information and lotof courses and events for peop
s
le to get into the deep end of amphibian and
air
nnual General Meeting 2009
Reptile recording and conservation. Best wishes to you all. Henri Henri Brocklebank SARG Ch
A
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ber 2009 at 7pm at the offices of the Sussex
SARG is entitled to attend and the agenda will
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 4 Decem
Wildlife Trust, Woods Mill, Henfield. Any member of
be as follows:
Opening remarks and Welcome
Apologies for absence
Minutes of previous AGM
Matters arising from the Minutes
Presentation of Annual Report (Chair/Secretary)
Adoption of Annual Report
Presentation of Accounts (Treasurer)
Adoption of Accounts
Appointment of Independent Examiner
Election of Management Committee/Office Bearers
Motions to be put to the AGM
Any Other Business
Course on amphibian surveying
HOW TO SURVEY FOR THEM
surveying. into practice.
th
AN INTRODUCTION TO AMPHIBIANS OF THE UK AND
Learn about amphibian biology, distribution and conservation as well as techniques inCourse includes a session out on the reserve putting new‐found surveying techniques
The course will take place at the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s headquarters at Woods Mill on Sunday 11April 2010 between 14:30 and 20:30. The tutor will be Liam Russell. Cost: Members of SWT or SARG/concessions £7.50, Non Members £12.50. Booking essential: Call Filma Dyer at the Wildlife Trust on 01273 497561.
JOINT SCIENTIFIC MEETING 2009
AND THE BRITISH HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Amphibian and R tion
l Science Society, form:
ORGANISED BY AMPHIBIAN & REPTILE CONSERVATION
eptile Biology and Conserva
Sunday, 6th December 2009. 09:00 – 17:00 at the Lecture Hall, Bournemouth Natura39 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3NS. Further details and booking
http://www.thebhs.org/Documents/main_documents/meetings/ARC‐BHS%202009%20Sci%20Meeting%20Flyer.pdf
Sussex Pond Survey Training Course
13th April and 25th May: Woods Mill , Henfield, West Sussex
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19th April: High Hurstwood, Uckfield, East Sussex
Get involved in the Sussex Pond Survey. This exciting project, now entering its second year, is finding
d identifying the best wildlife ponds.
ur practical
time. These sessions will give us the skills we need to be able to carry out
DAY/S, DATE/S & MONTH/S: Tuesday 13th April, Monday 19th April (evening), Tuesday May 25th
TIME/S: 13th April & 25th May, 10.00 – 4.00.
19th April, evening ‐ Exact time TBA
TUTORS: 13th April Barry Kemp, Patrick Roper, Bev Wadge
19th April Barry Kemp
25th May Simon Curson and Bev Wadge
COST: Members of SWT or SARG £25.00, non‐members £35.00.
Call Filma Dyer at Sussex Wildlife Trust on 01273 497561 to book.
out about the condition of ponds across Sussex, an
In the mornings we will learn about ponds and their importance for wildlife, then how to identify a
good wildlife pond and some of the species living in it. In the afternoons we will try out o
survey techniques.
The evening session at High Hurstwood will give us a rare opportunity to see and compare all three
native newts at the same
simple surveys of ponds in our own localities, and the results will help the Sussex Wildlife Trust care
for and improve these vitally important habitats.
GRID MAP REFERENCE: Woods Mill – TQ 218138
Health and Safety
afety recommendations in the form of risk assessments. The will all
ng website. These will be discussed at the beginning of ANY SARG
pdated constitution
SARG has a suite of Health and S
be published on our up and comi
event to ensure that everyone present is aware of the risks they are taking and the procedures they
need to put in place to reduce those risks.
U
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h time bringing the old constitution up to date. If any SARG he new constitution please email the SARG Chair, Henri on
The SARG committee have spent mucmember would like to see a copy of [email protected] or phone her on 01273 497553.
New website
warded £499 from the Natural History Museums OPAL project. This means
the SARG web presence up to date and start using the website for
singing
SARG was lucky to be a
that we can finally get
disseminating information to our members and the general public alike. Charles Roper has offered
to undertake the work at considerably reduced rate and we are looking forward to our all
and all dancing website in the near future. The OPAL funding will also pay for the printing of 2000
double sided A5 colour leaflets promoting amphibian and reptile recording. This will be designed
and printed once the website is completed.
Newts saved at High Hurstwood School
imary School, an ecological hool pond, due to be built over.
The newts have been gradually relocated to a new pond within a wildlife garden on site.
ion of extreme drunkenness. This is supposedly due to the rather ending “as a newt” can also be added to other phrases to express the
concept of drunkenness e.g. “Did you see Caroline Aherne receive her award last night, she looked,
oad.
ibians, including the fact that
33% of the world's amphibians at risk of extinction. Yet despite almost a year of news highlighting
olunteers needed :
For the new phase of a major redevelopment of High Hurstwood Prsurvey was carried out that discovered great crested newts in the sc
Amphibian beers
Pissed as a newt is an expresswobbly way newts walk. The
er, relaxed... as a newt.” In this spirit the Castle Rock brewery, Nottingham, has produced an ale called Great Crested Newt and another called Mr. T
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions!”
The 2008 Year of the Frog saw a surge in our knowledge of the threats facing amphthe landmark publication of Threatened Amphibians of the World which highlighted
the serious plight of amphibians, advances in their conservation have been few and far between. (Wildlife Extra).
V
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Green Street Farm South, Eastbourne
r allotment site at Filching oad, Eastbourne. As a result of the building works hundreds of Slow worms and Common lizards
the development site changed hands funding was no longer available to
help support Juanita and ensure the site continues to provide a safe habitat for
me of the grassland and scrub and building habitat piles. Bring some tools,
at the western end of Beechy Avenue ehind Pashley Down Infants School and just north of the Beechy Brow area of the Downs. The Grid
ld like to help please contact Barry Kemp on 01892 663942 or e‐mail
Winter Work Party at SARG has been involved with Green Street Farm South for many years. In 2000, 25 new houses were constructed by McClean Homes on a formeRwere relocated onto the Green Street Farm disused allotment site and the adjacent area of the South Downs. Unfortunately whenmanage the receptor site. For many years, with help from SARG , Juanita Dean of the EastbourneAllotment and Gardens Society has fought off pressures to develop the site, preferring to retain thesite for wildlife. If you would like toreptiles then please join our winter habitat creation day at 10:30am on……. Saturday 31st October Sunday 1st November Sunday 8th November Sunday 29th November We will be cutting back sothick gloves and any garden waste or logs that you can find. The site is located within the ‘Downside’ area of Eastbourne breference for the site TV 587 998. The postcode for the school is BN20 8NX. Please park in Beechy Gardens. If you [email protected].
The literary herpetile
Alan Harten writing on biofuels in Fair Home:
“When I was eight years old, I could never have imagined that while looking for frogs and newts and wading up to my thighs green pond slime, I was slipping and sliding through the fuel of the future.”
(It is, by the way, the algae that is of interest as a biofuel, not the frogs and newts. Ed.)
war
new nd
Adrian Chiles a presenter of The One Show (BBC TV1): “we move from the plight of Iraqi veterans to the plight of the natterjack toad. We used to just ask, say, Liam Neeson about hisfilm; now we require guests, whoever they are, to have an opinion about Iraqi war veterans anatterjack toads.” (Matt Warman in The Telegraph)
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In brief
“A recent survey revealed that an estimated eight million reptiles and amphibians are kept as pets in the UK.” The Independent.
The word "toady" ‐ a sycophant ‐ was once the name given to a magician's assistant who ate toads as part of the show. Sunday Mail.
An ancient amphibian that roamed the earth and its lakes 210 million years ago may have had the world's most bizarre bite — rather than opening its mouth by lowering its bottom jaw, like other vertebrates, Gerrothorax pulcherrimus would raise its upper jaw. Or, according to Reuters, “it lifted the top of its head in a way that looked a lot like lifting the lid of a toilet seat”. The Great Beyond blog.
According to the Manchester Evening News (27 December 2008) Manchester Museum are looking for a ‘hermit’ to spend eight weeks in isolation in the museum’s tower thinking about topical issues. The newspaper claims that a strong nerve is called for as the museum is full of (possibly spooked) Egyptian antiquities and the hermit “will also have to put up with live animals including frogs, toads and even snakes.”
I came across this Dutch phrase on one of my Internet travels and, apart from the first word, understood it without any knowledge of Dutch: Zeker twee adders zitten onder het gras (There are, undoubtedly, two adders sitting in the grass). This was the Netherlands version of our ‘snakes in the grass’ expression.
New research has found that up to one billion frogs are removed from the wild and put up for human consumption every year. The research was undertaken by the Adelaide University in Australia, and studied UN data.
“Typically, green collar describes a role that hopes to have a positive environmental and/or social impact. Many jobs are about lessening the environmental impact of construction and energy projects, such as, reducing the impact of a new car park. It doesn't just describe ecologists looking for newts in a pond, as it did a few years ago.” Andy Cartland, Managing Director of Acre Resources.
High on toad skin
Opium, heroin and hashish have long been the targets of Iran’s war on drugs. Now officials have turned their attention to a dangerous new source of substance abuse: toads. Experts say addicts have begun breeding toads for the purpose of rolling their dried skins inside cigarettes. Smoking them releases potentially addictive hallucinations, which are produced by a poisonous chemical normally used by the amphibians as a weapon against prey and predators.
Dr Azarakhsh Mokri, of Iran's national centre of addiction studies, said action was needed to combat "toad abuse" in a country identified by the UN as having the highest rate of opiate abuse in the world. He did not specify the species involved. Robert Tait in The Guardian.
Obituary: Julia Wycherley
We were saddened to hear of the death, on 9th September, of Julia Wycherley, honorary president of the Surrey Reptile and Amphibian Group. Julia was a founder member of Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group which, with SARG, lays claim to be the first of the ARGs, established over twenty years ago. She was co‐author of Amphibians and Reptiles of Surrey, published by Surrey Wildlife Trust in 2001. Julia’s particular interest in water frogs led her into the research on their calls for which she was awarded a doctorate from the University of Sussex. Her research into bioacoustics contributed towards establishing native status of the pool frog and she was one of the key movers behind the pool frog reintroduction programme. Julia was a vigorous supporter of reptile and amphibian conservation. Her work was acknowledged with an MBE and by an award from ARG UK, received at the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting in 2008. This was the first time that ARG UK recognised the efforts of an individual in this way. Over the years Julia was a friend and mentor to many other herp workers and all who knew her will miss her.
Froglife and toad crossings
Froglife's Toads on Roads campaign has been running for over twenty years. During this time they have registered 700 amphibian crossing points around the UK. The campaign works to ensure measures are put in place that save toads as they migrate across roads to breeding ponds in spring. There are more details on their website: http://www.froglife.org/toadsonroads/ These include: Check out a crossing: Find out further details about your nearest sites. You can now view maps of all of the UK's 700 amphibian crossings using Google Earth. Register your crossings: Seen toads crossing? Let us know where so that we can coordinate patrollers and find out more about amphibian populations locally. Patroller Pack: Everything you wanted to know about Toad Patrolling. Download resources to help your Toad Patrol ‐ includes important health and safety information. There is plenty of information on Sussex sites, but also many gaps, so it would help toads if people can add to the information held by Froglife or, even better, get involved with giving a hand at the places where SARG teams lend a helping hand.
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Freezing frog sperm Conservationists plan 'Domesday vault' for frog sperm
The freezer could be the future for frogs and other amphibians. Efforts announced today are
currently underway around the world to boost amphibian numbers with cryopreservation and
assisted reproduction.
Breeding frogs and their cousins to increase numbers could help vulnerable species survive looming
extinctions. But getting amphibians to mate is not always straightforward, so researchers are
developing other techniques to give them a helping hand.
One proposal resembles the Domesday seed vault in Norway. Only instead of plant seed, the
amphibian vault would store sperm, guaranteeing amphibian genetic diversity for times of dwindling
populations.
Frogulele
The Belgian firm of Stagg have produced a colourful, frog‐patterned ukulele. Just the job for those who enjoy amphibious strumming. And only £23.99 at the time of writing.
Fossil turtles
The fossilised remains of an ancient reptile that lived 220 million years ago may have solved the
puzzle of how the turtle got its shell and, in the process, cleared up one of the most enduring
mysteries of animal evolution.
It is the oldest known turtle‐like fossil and its shell appears to be only half‐formed, covering its belly
but leaving its back unprotected. Scientists believe it shows the evolutionary transition from the
shell‐less state of the earliest turtle ancestor to the fully formed shell of all living turtles.
Steve Connor, The Independent.
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Paul O’Grady bitten by adder
Last year chat show host and TV personality Paul O'Grady was bitten by the snake that had taken refuge in his log pile. He didn't go to hospital, and was back at work on Monday. In fact he didn't notice the bite until he saw blood and puncture marks on his arm. Froglife, a national wildlife charity for amphibians and reptiles, called for more ‘responsible coverage' from the media, when reporting on Paul O'Grady's adder bite. Headlines included ‘Lily Savaged' (Mirror); ‘Horror Snake Attack' (Mirror Online); ‘Adder Attack' (Press Association); and ‘O'Grady "feared for life"' (The Telegraph). "While an adder bite should always be taken seriously, the likelihood of being bitten should be kept in proportion and an unnecessary fear of snakes should not spoil our enjoyment of the UK's wildlife and wild places." said a Froglife spokesman. O'Grady was bitten by an adder in his house while moving firewood and Froglife called the incident, an "incredibly unlucky encounter". It is likely the adder had chosen to hibernate within a log, and was disturbed when the log was picked up. Human cases of adder‐bites tend to occur when adders are disturbed or trapped. Although often painful, adder bite is rarely fatal ‐ the last human death in Britain was over thirty years ago and medical treatment of adder bite is very effective. Adders are a protected species in the UK ‐ it is illegal to kill or injure any of the UK's snakes and lizards. Evidence indicates that adders are declining in many parts of the UK. To read Froglife and the Herpetological Conservation Trust's joint statement on adder‐bites: Low Down on Adders ‐ go to www.froglife.org
Publications
An excellent new field guide by Howard Inns with illustrations in full colour was published in July this year: Inns, H. (2009) Britain's Reptiles and Amphibians: A Field Guide, Covering Britain, Ireland and Channel Islands. WILDguides, Maidenhead, Berkshire.
There is an interesting paper on adders in the winter 2007/2008 issue of the Herpetological Bulletin: Phelps, Tony (2007) Reproductive strategies and life history traits of the Adder, Vipera berus (Serpentes: Viperidae), in southern England and central Wales. Herpetological Bulletin (102): 18‐31.
Natural England have been producing a series of Species Information Notes since June 2007
and these include SIN007 smooth snake, SIN008 sand lizard and SIN009 natterjack toad; 010
bats. Details at:
http://naturalengland.etraderstores.com/NaturalEnglandShop/publications/wildlife%20spec
Latham, D. & Knowles, M. (2008) Assessing the use of artificial hibernacula by great crested
newts Triturus cristatus and other amphibians for habitat enhancement, Northumberland,
England. Conservation Evidence 5: 74‐79.
http://www.conservationevidence.com/Attachments/PDF1247.pdf
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SOUTH EAST REGION AMPHIBIAN & REPTILE GROUPS’ ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Saturday 21st November 2009 Loddon Hall, Twyford, Berkshire
Conference Agenda 10 am Delegate registration, refreshments 10.30 am Welcome. Great Crested Newts of Popley Pond – habitat creation case study Matthew Smith (Berkshire Reptile & Amphibian Group) 11 am Great Crested Newts Species Action Plan – a national perspective Dorothy Wright (Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust) 11.30 am How effective are toad tunnels? Gareth Matthes (Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group) 12 pm Henley’s assisted toad migration – over a decade of data Alan Parfitt (Henley Wildlife Group) 12.30 pm Million Ponds Project Pascale Nicolet (Pond Conservation) 1 pm Lunch (provided) 2 pm Adder conservation at the Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s Warburg Reserve. John Cranfield (ARG UK) 2.30 pm Make the Adder Count 2005 – 2009 John Baker (Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust) 3 pm Conserving amphibians and reptiles in farmland Jim Foster (Natural England) 3.30 pm Refreshments 4 pm Regional ARG meeting, Regional ARG round up and Conference Q & As Chaired by John Cranfield (ARG UK) 5 pm Depart Conference places cost £16 per person, including refreshments and lunch Delegates MUST book and pay in advance Venue details Loddon Hall, Twyford. www.loddonhall.co.uk Parking available. Grid ref SU789764 (478961,176483) Postcode - RG10 9JA. To reduce the event’s carbon footprint, please car-share where possible or see www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk/ for train/bus operators and timetables. The venue is 10 minutes walk from Twyford station (main line between Paddington and Reading)
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SE ARG Conference Saturday 21st November 2009 Conference Booking Form Delegates MUST book and pay in advance I would like book …………………… place(s) Name(s) of those attending ……………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Organisation ……………………………………………………………………………………………. Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Phone number …………………………………………………………………………………………... Email ……………………………………………………………………………………………………... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. I enclose a cheque for £ ……………… Cheques should be made payable to “BRAG” £16 per person and includes refreshments and a light buffet lunch. Please specify any special dietary requirements …………………………………………………….
Receipts will be issued on the day. Please tick here if you require a receipt � Confirmation will be sent to delegates by email in early November Call or email Andy on 0118 934 2016 or [email protected] if you would like to exhibit a static display or poster presentation Please send this completed form and your cheque to: Andy Glencross, SE ARG Conference, c/o Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, RG10 0TH
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SARG Committee Members
SARG Web Site SARG Weblog
In production http://sussexamphibianandeptilegroup.blogspot.com
Chair Henri Brocklebank
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, Woods Mill Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD Tel: 01273 497553 E‐mail: [email protected]
Toad Crossing Coordinator Jenny Bacon
Hammonds Green Cottage, Hammonds Green, Framfield, East Sussex TN22 5QH Tel: 01825 890236 E‐ mail: [email protected]
Secretary Laura Brook
Sussex Wildlife Trust, Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex Tel: 01273 497505 E‐mail: [email protected]
Minutes Secretary Leila Simpson
20 South Street, East Hoathly, East Sussex BN8 6DS Tel: 01825 840714 E‐mail: [email protected]
Treasurer & Membership Secretary Alan Drummond
27 York Road, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 5JS Tel: 01293 535027 E‐mail: [email protected]
Surveys Officer Barry Kemp
Amblehurst, Nevill Road, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 2RA Tel: 01892 663942 E‐mail: [email protected]
Events Secretary Georgina Hammond
E‐mail: [email protected]
Heathland Forum rep & Arlington Advisory Committee Rep Alf Simpson MBE
Hardanger, Littleworth, Partridge Green, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8JF Tel: 01403 710694 E‐mail: [email protected]
SARG Library Janet Claydon
9 Kingsway, Seaford , East Sussex BN25 2NE Tel: 01323 492066
Newsletter Editor Patrick Roper
South View, Churchland Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PF Tel: 01424 870993 E‐mail: [email protected]
South East Water Emma Goddard
The Lodge, Arlington Reservoir, Berwick, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 6TF Tel: 01323 870810 Ext23 E‐mail: [email protected]
