NMARG's next habitat management task takes place on Sunday, february 28th, when we will continue with cutting back scrub regrowth in the same area of dunes at Birkdale as in the previous task, on February 14th. Anyone interested in helping with this event, please contact Mike Brown on mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk

Our next habitat management task, together with volunteers from the Sefton Ranger Service, will take place on Wednesday March 9th, meeting at Ainsdale Discovery Centre at 1pm. This will involve assisting the Rangers with the removal and burning of scrub on the Ainsdale LNR. Anyone interested in helping , please email Mike Brown on mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk.

The event due to take place on Sunday, March 13th has been cancelled.

Our next habitat management task involves the cleaning over of sand patches on a fixed dune site at Ainsdale, to provide suitable egg laying conditions for female Sand Lizards. For further details, please contact Mike Brown on mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk

We are carrying on with our sand patch renovation on saturday, May 28th, on a fixed dune area at Ainsdale. The aim is to remove invasive plants from sand patches created two years ago, and to loosen up the sand, ensuring that the essential conditions for female Sand Lizards to lay their eggs in are available to them.

For further information, please contact Mike Brown at mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk

Our next habitat management task is on Sunday, December 11th, when we will be tackling more unwanted scrub and small trees, which are shading or threatening to shade vital Sand Lizard habitat on the Sefton Coast dunes. This task will be in conjunction with the Sefton Coast and Countryside Ranger Service.

Our next habitat management task is on Sunday, December 11th, when we will be tackling more unwanted scrub and small trees, which are shading or threatening to shade vital Sand Lizard habitat on the Sefton Coast dunes. This task will be in conjunction with the Sefton Coast and Countryside Ranger Service.

This will be our second ''scrub bashing'' habitat management task of the Winter on the Sefton Coast dunes, when we try and control scrub and trees which are invading vital Sand Lizard and Natterjack Toad habitat on the Sefton Coast.

Please note that this task is now Sunday only.

Anyone interested in helping, please contact Mike Brown, on mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk

This will be our third habitat management task of the Winter on the Sefton Coast, when we will again be helping to control invasive scrub (especially Sea Buckthorn) and trees, which are shading out the open habitats needed by the very rare Merseyside Sand Lizards and Natterjack Toads. For further details, please contact Mike Brown, on mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARG UK), are delighted to be able to announce the 2017 Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting, which is to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in central Nottingham on 11-12 February 2017.

Running annually for over 27 years, this popular two-day event occupies the centre stage of the herpetological calendar. Once again, a full and varied programme of presentations and workshops is on offer, with plenty of opportunities to network with the speakers and other delegates. The meeting attracts a diverse audience representing: conservation organisations, ecological consultants, statutory bodies, land managers, academic institutions and students, and enthusiastic volunteers.

In 2017, the meeting will cover a range of topics including: the importance of the new chytrid species, B.sal, for our native amphibians; showcasing a range of novel approaches to reptile mitigation; restoring overgrown farmland ponds; updates from the national statutory agencies; conservation priorities for Adders; using SUDS to help toads; the RAVON approach to monitoring for widespread species in the Netherlands; integrated approaches to Great Crested Newt monitoring, including the use of genetic techniques to understand population dynamics; Aesculapian Snakes; and some interesting examples of how citizen science can support amphibian and reptile conservation, from Cornwall and Scotland.

There is also a strong workshop programme, and topics will include: eDNA surveys for Great Crested Newts; developing a new national widespread species recording scheme; practical tips for restoring overgrown ponds; EPS licensing updates; and developing guidelines for guided public reptile walks. Something for everyone!

  pdf (138 KB) Download the programme here

BOOKINGS ARE NOW OPEN - Please go to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation website to book your place and select your workshops. There is a reduction in price for ARG members.

NMARG's next habitat management task on the Sefton Coast is on Sunday, 19th February. The task will involve the clearance of invasive scrub, especially Sea Buckthorn, on the Ainsdale sand dunes LNR. For further details, please contact Mike Brown, on mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk