Welcome to Derbyshire Amphibian and Reptile Group we cover the whole of Derbyshire including part of the Peak District National Park.
Our group aims to promote the study and conservation of the amphibians and reptiles of Derbyshire and their habitats. We achieve this by:
We hope our website will help you to find the information you are looking for, but if you still have a query, please contact us and we will do our best to help.
Derbyshire ARG always welcome new members to the group, please email us on derbyshirearg@gmail.com to join. There is a membership subscription of £5 per year, though that is reviewed at every AGM..
We are very grateful for any records of amphibians and reptiles in your local area that you can pass to us as it helps in mapping the distribution of species and protecting their known habitats. Either contact us directly or use the Record a sighting tab on this website.
The group is run by a committee which is elected at the AGM each year. For 2020 - 2021 the committee elected at the AGM on 29th February 2020 are:
Chair - Kelvin Lawrence, Vice Chair - Christian Murray-Leslie, Secretary - Chris Monk, Treasurer - Jayne Thompson
Committee members - Richard Fenn Griffin, James Longley, Emily Major, Sheila Stubbs, Trevor Taylor
Kelvin Lawrence is also the Derbyshire Toad Crossings Co-ordinator for the Group & for Froglife and Richard Fenn Griffen covers membership and data protection
See a previous newsletters here
January_2021_DARG_newsletter_31.pdf
August_2020_DerbyshireARG_newsletter.pdf
February_2020_DARG_Events_newsletter.pdf
DARG_April_2019_newsletter.pdf
DARG_January_2019_newsletter.pdf
Derbyshire ARG data policy
DARG_data_protection_policy_November_2018.pdf
Derbyshire ARG will be deciding at its next committee meeeting at the end of February on what activities can be organised this year depending on Government guidance and regulation relating to the Covid-19 pandemic
With the news that the Derbyshire Woodland Festival in late September will not now go ahead all our public engagement events across Derbyshire this summer have been cancelled due to the restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic. At the present time all other group activities such as surveys are suspended until such time as restrictions are amended and group gatherings of people in the open are allowed.
Derbyshire ARG
Toads on Roads: Change to Coronavirus Guidance
Further to our recent communication regarding toad patrolling during the Coronavirus emergency, there has been a change in government advice to restrict all but essential movement. The Group no longer feels we can continue with toad patrols whilst this restriction is in place, so we are instructing that this activity should cease with immediate effect.
Thanks to all for your support, and we hope to be back rescuing toads again next spring.
For more information please see https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Take care and stay safe,
Kelvin Lawrence
Chair and Toad Crossings Coordinator, Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group
& Derbyshire Area Coordinator for Froglife
23rd March 2020
Derbyshire ARG -Coronavirus Memorandum
As a group we have always, and will always, put the health, safety and welfare of people involved or affected by our activities first, ahead of any other considerations.
We are at present in the busy toad migration season, and most of our toad patrols are currently active or standing by. It is the group's considered opinion that it is possible for volunteers to comply with current government advice regarding social distancing whilst on toad patrol, and so we are continuing to rescue toads and other amphibians from road traffic, although no-one should feel obligated to do so. Please do not attend a patrol if you are in isolation or are feeling unwell or if you fall in the high-risk groups (over 70 years old or have pre-existing health problems).
Individuals should regularly review government advice (see link below) and assess their own vulnerability before they choose to go out on toad patrol. Please keep up to date as government advice is likely to change before the toad patrols have finished. Please also continue to follow all our guidelines, policies and procedures, and contact your coordinator if you have any questions.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-forvulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-olderpeople-and-vulnerable-adults
The Group will take a view on participation in future events and activities in due course. It is likely that some public events that the Group have planned to attend will be cancelled. We may be able to run some surveys this spring and summer.
Take care and stay safe,
Kelvin Lawrence
Chair and Toad Crossings Coordinator, Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group
& Derbyshire Area Coordinator for Froglife
17th March 2020
Together with the village environment group we ran a working party to help remove a garden escape from the Middle Lane pond in Brassington. The pond, which has 3 rare water plants as well as water shrew, frog and smooth newt, was being taken over by vigorous growth of a variegated form of Glyceria maxima. After a previous working party by the village group, we joined them to try and remove as much of the plant and its roots as possible. Although there will be regrowth especially along the walled edge where it was almost impossible to remove the roots, it will have greatly reduced the density of this plant in the coming year. A few early frogs were found in the pond but spawning still hasn't happened yet in the Peak District.
Working party to carry out clearance of garden variety of Glyceria maxima variegata from old green lane pond at Middle Lane, Brassington.
10.30 to 13.00, tools supplied, need wellies and suitable clothing. Please email derbyshirearg@gmail to take part and receive location map and extra details.
Group AGM and talk 2.00pm to 4.30pm,free & open to everybody
To be held at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust HQ, Main Street, Middleton by Wirksworth
Further details to follow
See updated information on our news page
We will be running around 16 toad crossing patrols across Derbyshire during this approximate timespan (depending on the weather).
New volunteers are always welcome please contact us on derbyshirearg.toads@gmail.com and we can put you in touch with the nearest patrol to your location.
due to the measures around the coronavirus pandemic
due to the measures around the coronavirus pandemic
due to the measures around the coronavirus pandemic
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARG UK), are delighted to announce 2021’s Herpetofauna Workers Meeting will be held virtually for the first time on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February. We would like the conference to be accessible to as many people as possible including those that would not usually be able to attend in person. We have set our concessionary delegate fee at £35 for ARG members, ARC Friends and students and £75 for non-members for attendance over the weekend.
To register for the meeting go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/herpetofauna-workers-meeting-2021-tickets-133113073787
Registration closes on 3rd February
Being held on Zoom 19.15 to 21.00 hrs.
Talks from Sheila Dyason (Dorset – DARN), Suzie Collinson (Cumbria - CARG ), Kevin Clarke (Nottinghamshire ARG), Erik Paterson (ClydeARG), Trevor Rose (Friends of Angus Herpetofauna & British Herpetological Society), Rob Gandola (Herpetological Society of Ireland), Ryan Boyle (Northern Ireland ARG), Matt Legg (NW Wales ARG) and David Orchard (Lancashire - ARGL).
Register at Eventbrite
For Toad Crossings and to contact our Derbyshire Toad Crossings Co-ordinator please email derbyshirearg.toads@gmail.com
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