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
HCS have their own portal directly into ARGWEB and have been using the data from our surveys to aid their planning towards improving the habitat for various species and now have evidence based information related to herps on the sites. The fact that they specifically recognise reptiles in the release is an encouraging sign. We'll continue to survey these areas and provide important feedback over the following years.
We also plan be setting up joint volunteer activities with the local HCS commons volunteers again during winter so look out for the events.
"We appreciate that these works can sometimes seem quite destructive and can initially be visually unappealing, however, after a relatively short period of time and with some targeted follow-up management the open heathland habitats begin to flourish and species typically associated with them start to utilise the additional habitat available to them. It is hoped that within 3-5 years heathland habitats within these areas will have re-stablished and in fact have begun to flourish."
To read the full blog post by the Yateley Ranger Team visit Heathland Restoration 2020
Click the link to register ARG UK Autumn Seminar Series: District Level Licencing – a new approach to managing great crested newts in the planning system
Thursday 15 Oct 2020 19:30 – 21:00
An exploration and evaluation of a new approach to managing great crested newts in the planning system. Presented by Jonathan Cranfield (Recording Officer, HIWARG and Director of Herpetologic Ltd), we will be learning more about what the new District Level Licensing system aims to achieve in terms of benefits to great crested newts and wildlife, as well as developers, and how this works in practice. We will be hearing from Mike Phillips (Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group, KRAG), Donna Popplewell (Bakerwell Consultants), Tilly Tillbrook (Director at Integrated Ecological Solutions Ltd) and Luke Gorman (Associate Director, Atkins Global). Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion with an opportunity for participants to ask questions or raise other points. (Images copyright Julian Smart and Angela Julian).
Visit ARG UK's Eventbrite page to sign up to their free "Autumn Seminar Series" webinars.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/amphibian-amp-reptile-groups-of-uk-arg-uk-18283654913
On Sunday 30th August, HIWARG had its second field trip to help determine the extent of a population of Southern Clade Pool Frogs, Pelophylax lessonae. We are hoping to map the distribution of this species in North Hampshire and will be carrying out ongoing surveys in the general area. Pool Frogs in the UK are split into two "Clades", which effectively means 'natural group'. Pool Frog populations that were present in Norfolk were considered to be non-native, until they were identified as Northern Clade Pool Frogs and most likely native. Northern Clade Pool Frogs are a rare group found mainly in Scandinavia, Estonia and up until the mid 1990s, in Eastern England. Following the extinction of the UK populations, a reintroduction programme began in 2005.
However, the population in Hampshire are known to be Southern Clade Pool Frogs from mainland Europe and are considered non-native and this population were previously known to be carriers of the Chytridiomycosis disease. Our first survey earlier in the summer involved capturing animals to swab for Chytrid and we are following this up with further surveys, moving away from the main breeding ponds. Keep watching the website and our social media platforms for updates of this project.
We received a kind donation by a member of the group of a few 100 old journals, bulletins & news letters, some dating back to 1952. Along with some lovely historical pieces such as the registration form for Herp Workers Meeting 1997 (some of the wording still identical today 😊 ) and others.
Look at some of the tours available in 1989…. interesting when one sees how little things have changed and virtually the identical headlines are still featuring now some 30-50 years later e.g. Declining Amphibian Populations, Pool Frog populations in UK, Adder declines etc.
One day when we have a “club house” these will make up part of our library.
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
#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
Reptile Habitat Management Handbook
Amphibian 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)
ARC's "Dogs and Adders" Advice Sheet
"There is a Snake in my Garden - What can I do?" (ARG UK)
HIWARG Safeguarding Policy and Protocols June 2020
Buddy System/Lone Working Procedures
ARG UK Generic Risk Assessment July2020
REPORT SICK OR DEAD WILDLIFE TO GARDEN WILDLIFE HEALTH
Advice Note-4: Amphibian disease precautions - a guide for UK fieldworkers
Reptile Slough Genebank - collection & submission of found sloughs
Garden Wildlife Health - Severe Perkinsea Infection (SPI)
Fixing Enkamat to Gully Pots - Initial Findings in Sussex
Useful glossary of terms often used within the herpetological field. (Credit due - unknown)
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.
Upcoming events will be listed here.
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