If you'd like to develop the skills to find out which species of amphibian are present in a pond, we have two events planned so far:

April 13th: Phillips Park, Whitefield. - meet at 19.15 finishing around 21.30-22.00. There will be a return visit the following morning to retrieve bottle traps.

April 13th: Boz Park, Whitefield. This will be another opportunity to practice amphibian survey techniques, but without the use of bottle traps.

If you'd like to attend either event please contact David Orchard: argsl*btinternet.com. Please note that numbers are limited and that places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

On Sunday December 2nd we'll be working at Rixton Claypits to improve the habitat for great crested newts. The work will involve the removal of scrub to prevent excessive shading of ponds. Meet at the Visitors Centre at 10am, or please contact us for further details.

Arranging survey events in spring is always difficult as it’s the busiest time of year for many people. However this year we’re trying something new: a number of ARGL members have offered to coordinate one event each which has provided an interesting and varied programme.

Please take a look at the list of events listed for March to May and if you’d like to attend any of them please e-mail us asap. One of the challenges is that it’s difficult to confirm survey dates in advance, mainly due to the weather, but also due to people’s work commitments. We’ll let the event organiser know you’re interested and they’ll be in touch with you directly to confirm a date, time and place to meet up. If you’ve any queries please get in touch.

Late March/early April

Pond digging at Oakwood Park, Salford

Visit to natterjack breeding pools near Ainsdale

Slow-worm survey near Timperley (from April onwards)

Late April/ May

Amphibian survey training near Bolton (late April/early May)

Amphibian survey near Chorley

Amphibian survey near Hale Village/Speke in South Liverpool (late April/early May)

Amphibian surveys in Bolton and Blackburn (April/May)

Risley Moss is an outstanding SSSI and an excellent habitat for both amphibians and reptiles. This task will help rangers from Warrington Borough Council to implement the management plan for the site by removing scrub from specific areas. 

Where: Meet at Risley Moss Visitor Centre, Birchwood, Ordnance Avenue, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6QX

Time: 10am. (Tasks usually last until mid afternoon.)

What to bring: Lunch, plenty of water, waterproofs and strong footwear or wellies (definitely no trainers). Please wear old clothes and bring a pair of work gloves if you have them. Tools, hard hats and gloves will be provided for those that need them.  

During this task we'll be helping staff from South Ribble Borough Council to manage a historic pond which dates back to at least 1845. It is located within some excellent terrestrial habitat and common frog, common toad and smooth newts have been recorded there. This task will reduce shading to the pond by removing some trees and scrub.

Where: Meet on Lyndale Avenue, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5UU. If you're attending this task please get in touch for details of where to park.

Time: 10am. (Tasks usually last until mid afternoon.)

What to bring: Lunch, plenty of water, waterproofs and strong footwear or wellies (definitely no trainers). Please wear old clothes and bring a pair of work gloves if you have them. Tools, hard hats and gloves will be provided for those that need them. 

This is the second task to help staff from South Ribble Borough Council manage a historic pond where common frog, common toad and smooth newts have been recorded. This task will reduce shading to the pond by removing some trees and scrub.

Where: Meet on Lyndale Avenue, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5UU. If you're attending this task please get in touch for details of where to park.

Time: 10am. (Tasks usually last until mid afternoon.)

What to bring: Lunch, plenty of water, waterproofs and strong footwear or wellies (definitely no trainers). Please wear old clothes and bring a pair of work gloves if you have them. Tools, hard hats and gloves will be provided for those that need them.

This is our only indoor meeting of the year during which you'll be brought up to speed with everything that’s been going on over the past twelve months. It's also a good opportunity to meet other volunteers to agree the way forward for 2020. 

The time and venue of the meeting will be confirmed in mid November, depending on the location of members attending. If you're able to join us it’d be great to see you there.

Risley Moss is an outstanding SSSI and an excellent habitat for both amphibians and reptiles. This task will help rangers from Warrington Borough Council to implement the management plan for the site by removing scrub from specific areas. 

Where: Meet at Risley Moss Visitor Centre, Birchwood, Ordnance Avenue, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6QX

Time: 10am. (Tasks usually last until mid afternoon.)

What to bring: Lunch, plenty of water, waterproofs and strong footwear or wellies (definitely no trainers). Please wear old clothes and bring a pair of work gloves if you have them. Tools, hard hats and gloves will be provided for those that need them.

In 2008 ARGL created seven ponds at Witton Park, Blackburn. Within their first year all became breeding ponds for the common frog, common toad, smooth newt and palmate newt. Over subsequent years ARGL managed these ponds and their surrounding habitat but little work has been done since 2014. The ponds are now in need of careful management and this task will remove willow which is now casting shade over the ponds. Typha will also be removed from some of the more overgrown ponds.

Where: Meet in the car park of the football pavillion, Pleasington Playing Fields, Tower Road, Blackburn, BB2 5LE.

Time: 10am. (Tasks usually last until mid afternoon.)

What to bring: Lunch, plenty of water, waterproofs and strong footwear or wellies (definitely no trainers). Please wear old clothes and bring a pair of work gloves if you have them. Tools, hard hats and gloves will be provided for those that need them.

Risley Moss is an outstanding SSSI and an excellent habitat for both amphibians and reptiles. This task will help rangers from Warrington Borough Council to implement the management plan for the site by removing scrub from specific areas. 

Where: Meet at Risley Moss Visitor Centre, Birchwood, Ordnance Avenue, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6QX

Time: 10am. (Tasks usually last until mid afternoon.)

What to bring: Lunch, plenty of water, waterproofs and strong footwear or wellies (definitely no trainers). Please wear old clothes and bring a pair of work gloves if you have them. Tools, hard hats and gloves will be provided for those that need them.