Hampshire And Isle of Wight Amphibian and Reptile Group (HIWARG)
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About us

About Us

Hampshire is fortunate that the county covers a huge geographic area and a very diverse breadth of habitat including: the Isle of Wight, the New Forest National Park, the South Downs National Park, as well as many other unspoiled areas, including Woolmer Forest.
It is therefore unsurprising that we are host to 12 out of the 13 native amphibians and reptiles in UK, including rarities such as the Natterjack Toad, Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake, and wherever you live in the county there will be opportunities to survey and monitor an assemblage of amphibian and reptile species.

HIWARG formed in the Autumn of 2018 and is an affiliated independent ARG-UK group. The group focus is conservation of native UK species essentially around habitat management, surveying, public engagement, volunteer training & doing as much as possible to understand & protect the native species in the county.
All members are volunteers with a common interest.

If you have some spare time and would like to be involved with HIWARG, maybe you have taken a photo of a reptile or amphibian and would like it identified or maybe you have some other query, then please do get in contact  info@hiwarg.org.uk 


CONSERVATION THROUGH EMPATHY BY ENGAGEMENT

 

Visit HIWARG's Redbubble Shop to support our work www.redbubble.com/people/HIWARG/shop

News

News

Pit Stop Pond Surveys

Posted on Friday 18th June, 2021

PitstopPS web

Short fast torch surveys of easily accessible, public access ponds

Pit Stop Pond Surveys are a citizen science activity that anyone can take part in. The idea is to pre plan a route with maps to help identify ponds that are publicly accessible and within a short easy walk from your parked car. Ideally you can make a list of 3-5 ponds that you can visit in around an hour or so, getting to the first pond about twenty minutes after sunset. It is normally still a little too light for torching at this time, but it should only be about 20-30 minutes before it is optimum for torching. It is important to only survey when you have a buddy to accompany you and also let others know where you will be. Google Maps, Magic, or OS Maps are all good for planning your journey and identifying possible ponds. If you do turn up to the pond and you find that its on private land, do not be tempted to trespass. You can often find that ponds are dried up, no longer exist or are not suitable for wildlife, so don't feel too disappointed if this is the case.

At the pond, check the ground and surrounding area for hazards, such as weak edges, trip hazards, etc and make sure that you can easily see the edge of the pond. Also check that you will not be disturbing residents when you are shining torches about... ponds do reflect torchlight up, so angle your torch appropriately. It is also wise to not torch too late as this will upset residents and can cause friction, around 11pm should be late enough for surveying near houses. 

When you have completed your Pit Stop Pond Survey, you can add your sightings to https://www.recordpool.org.uk/ or ARGWEB if you are a HIWARG/local ARG member. If you need help identifying your sightings, try to take photographs or video where possible and use the guides on this website, under "Info and ID Guides". Alternatively, post the images and your questions on our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/455730808110700 and we will try to help ID them for you.

 

 

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Amphibian Survey Training

Posted on Sunday 4th April, 2021

If you are interested in amphibian survey training in April, email info@hiwarg.org.uk and we will get back to you.

Training is limited to members only, but this is only £6 a year so a real bargain for what you can get out of your membership.


Amphibian Survey Training

Posted on Sunday 7th March, 2021

 

blank websiteTraining pic

I am looking at setting up some training sessions for paid members who want to start surveying HIWARG amphibian sites. The sessions will be for beginners and anyone wanting a bit more experience at survey techniques, IDs, etc.

The sessions will be a mix of online and (hopefully if the Govt's roadmap goes well) potentially some small socially distanced sessions at the end of the month/early April.

Comment on our Facebook post if you are interested, including your rough level of experience/expectations and I will start to make some plans.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/455730808110700


Turtle Tally's New Website

Posted on Wednesday 20th January, 2021

Turtle Tally now has a new website:

"The project is aimed at collecting observational data on the locations where we see turtles and terrapins in our local lakes and ponds in the UK. If you spot them in local waterbodies, you can submit your sighting to the survey link below. Your input is so important and working together we can collect information to understand more on this topic. We have two survey links, one for the general sightings and another specifically for anglers to complete. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions and take a look at some of our pages to learn more.

Important notes:

  • Please remember that this is purely an observational study so there is no need to disturb or handle terrapins.
  • Please ensure your safety when near open bodies of water.
  • Releasing non-native species in the UK can result in prosecution."

To visit the new website click https://www.turtletally.co.uk


IMPORTANT DATES FROM ARG-UK

Posted on Wednesday 20th January, 2021

We have a few diary dates coming up. Necessarily these are all online, in these COVID-19 times - but we are hoping that with the vaccine coming on stream that we will all be able to get out and about later in the spring and do some practical conservation.

The first of these on 28th January at 7:30 pm is a relaunch of London ARG. We know that many of you are far from London, but if you have a friend or other connection there that might enjoy getting involved, please do pass on the details. We've had quite a lot of interest so are hoping that this new push will get LondonARG up and running again.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-arg-larg-relaunch-new-year-new-start-tickets-135965324947?fbclid=IwAR32H3WihrANdrev49hx158p7fYsLCnMaL-bUR6oeTFdvyH_ojaq8I7tlFg

The second diary date is the 2021 Herpetofauna Workers Meeting on Sat-Sun 6-7 February. We've stayed with the weekend format, and once again are offering a mixture of presentations and workshops. We are sorry to be missing out on some of the social networking, although there will still be our world famous quiz #HIGNFY - but this is a good compromise given the restrictions we are facing, and is a great opportunity to catch up on the latest news and research, and hopefully feel inspired for the new amphibian and reptile season. The event is hosted on the ARC website - and they will be able to answer any further organisational questions.

To register for the event please follow the link to the ARC Trust website: https://www.arc-trust.org/Event/hwm2021

The third date is our ARG UK AGM. Again, given the restrictions we've opted for an online format - and rather than trying to squeeze it into the HWM, are having it as a stand alone event on Thursday 18th February from 7:15 pm. Free to all of our affiliated ARGS and their members (plus any potential ARG members), we are making the most of the geographical freedom offered by Zoom to hear from some of our ARGs and other friends from all over UK and Ireland including: 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 Pembrokeshire ARG.

We will be hearing more about: monitoring slow-worms in churchyards, finding adders in Pembrokeshire, digging ponds in NW Wales, restoring wetlands in Ireland, a photographic calendar competition, conserving amphibians in Scotland, ambitious plans for installing amphibian escape ladders, TikTok tadpoles in Northern Ireland, and making grass snake egg laying heaps in Nottinghamshire - plus a rather fabulous video. So please do come along, be inspired, share your news and views and have a say in how we coordinate our fantastic network of volunteer amphibian and reptile groups.

To sign up follow the link to eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arg-uk-2021-annual-general-meeting-agm-with-arg-updates-tickets-135964909705?fbclid=IwAR2myNJrnL7Qe26K9HBVs8ccv91eAikRUtoDq5BUMXUjgiqXGwfDqsdsReg


Events

Events

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Membership costs just £6.00 per year as a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. 
Your membership will help HIWARG to protect the amphibians & reptile of Hampshire. 
Be aware of and take part in conservation opportunities, surveys and many other activities across the county.

 

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Donate to HIWARG

Donate to HIWARG

You can help HIWARG achieve its goals by a simple donation towards our activities.
Donations are put towards equipment used for habitat management, surveys and public engagement such as printed material and fact sheets to hand out during educational events.

 

 

   

Info & ID guides

Info & ID guides

Identification Guides

Amphibian Identification - downloadable colour cards : a great ID guide from ARG UK/ARC 

Newt Eggs & Larvae - downloadable colour cards  : an excerpt from the above guide, specifically on newt eggs and larvae

Its a small newt but which one : a HIWARG guide to help differentiate smooth newts and palmate newts

Reptile Identification - downloadable colour cards : a great ID guide from ARG UK/ARC 

Non-Native Species ID Sheets (NNSS Website) : ID sheets from the Non Native Species Secretariat

Alien Amphibian and Reptile Species in the UK : A bilingual guide (English/Welsh) from ARC

 

Projects & Citizen Science

#BigGreenFrogHunt: Southern Clade Pool Frogs calling A YouTube video of southern clade pool frogs calling in North Hampshire

#BigGreenFrogHunt: Marsh frogs calling

DARN's 'Slow Worms in Churchyards' project

'Amphibians & Reptiles on Allotments' Introduction Leaflet

"Spawn Spotters" presentation 12 Jan 2021

Toad Patrol presentation 12 Jan 2021

Gotta love a larva  presentation 9 July 2021

HIWARG Video: Spawn Spotters and Toad Patrols Jan 2021

HIWARG Video: Amphibian surveys: ID'S & Survey Methods March 2021

 

Habitat Management and Creation

pdfReptile Habitat Management Handbook

pdfAmphibian Habitat Management Handbook

Creating Garden Ponds - downloadable booklet   

Creating Ponds for Amphibians and Reptiles (Freshwater Habitats Trust)

Guide to the Restoration, Creation and Management of Ponds (Freshwater Habitats Trust)

Habitat Management guides (Buglife) - Not specifically herp based but a great set of guides

How to Create Invertebrate and Reptile Mounds (Magnificent Meadows)

Creating Grass Snake Egg-laying Heaps (ARG UK and RAVON)

 

Advice and Information

ARC's "Dogs and Adders" Advice Sheet

"There is a Snake in my Garden - What can I do?" (ARG UK)

 

Policies/Health & Safety                                                              

HIWARG Safeguarding Policy and Protocols June 2020

Buddy System/Lone Working Procedures

ARG UK Generic Risk Assessment July2020

 

Herp Diseases - Recognise & Report

REPORT SICK OR DEAD WILDLIFE TO GARDEN WILDLIFE HEALTH

Advice Note-4: Amphibian disease precautions - a guide for UK fieldworkers

Snake Fungal Disease  

Toad fly (Lucilia bufonivora)   

Amphibian Chytridiomycosis  

Ranavirus Disease  

Reptile Slough Genebank - collection & submission of found sloughs 

Garden Wildlife Health - Severe Perkinsea Infection (SPI)

GWH - Guidelines for safe disposal of waste water and other materials from captive amphibian enclosures

 

Other

Fixing Enkamat to Gully Pots - Initial Findings in Sussex

Useful glossary of terms often used within the herpetological field. (Credit due - unknown)      


Kids stuff - Educational items for the young ones

            Pond pack                                         Animal fact sheets                               Animal colouring sheets    
Pond Pack                     Alfie1                             Sammy1

 

     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 







Contact us

Contact Us

If you would like more information about HIWARG or have something to share with us, please get in touch via the link to our social media presence. 

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