As a group CARG offer the following opportunities
We are available and qualified to give
Training days carried out by expert ecologists
Social events
To become a member send an email request to
Bank transfer details will be forwarded to you.
You will receive a welcome email and login details to ARGWEB - in which the appropriate membership forms and voluntary forms will be required to be filled in for your membership.
Toad Patrols
Become a patrol manager of a registered road or a patroller to help to assist in helping our native common toad to their breeding ponds
Surveys
Contribute to the collection of data - building a picture of reptile and amphibian distribution within our county
Habitat Management
Practical ground management improving the quality of amphibian and reptile habitats
ARGWEB Management Software
Managing membership/ managing survey direction and reporting/sharing data info to land managers, owners, stakeholders
Cumbrian Common Toad (Thompson 2019)
At the beginning of November we were invited to Lakeland Wildlife Oasis at Milnthorpe.
The visit included a guided informative talk and tour from the reptile and amphibian staff Matt and Sarah (both CARG members)
We were shown a wide variety of herp species and gained knowlegde on their husbandry requirements, breeding projects and the benefits of the new enclosures installed
A fantastic day a a very big thank you to all the staff at the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis !
We welcomed new members to CARG and held a mid year year meeting discussing projects past, present and future
This week we were in invited to give a talk at the University of Cumbria - Introducing the group, what with have been up to this year, what we have planned and how students can get involved with voluntary work.
Cumbria_Amphibian_and_Reptile_Group.pdf (Presentation slides)
Suzanne Collinson also gave and informative talk to the audience in regards to her dissertation work "Using Identification of Slow Worms (Anguis fragilis) to Investigate Refugia Fidelity"
Zoo_society_talk.pdf (Presentation slides)
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/19618411 Part 1 (Recording of talk to assist slides)
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/19625619 Part 2 (Recording of talk to assist slides)
Over the past couple of months University of Cumbria student Katherine Monaghan (Animal Conservation Science BSc (hons) student) has been working hard on creating a comprehensive map of cumbrian herpetofauna for CARG.
This will help us as a group plan more surveys in the future and we can see if numbers are increasing or decreasing. Putting in to plan conservation measures to maintain or encourage numbers.
Katherine has a passion for Anuran (tailless amphibians - frogs and toads) and is currently helping to collect data for the following PhD study - follow link for more information:
Katherines is also currently undertaking her dissertation subject titled "How Temporal and Spatial Factors affect South African Anuran Bioacoustics"
Thank you for all your hard work katherine and keep us up to date with your research !
REMEMBER TO RECORD YOUR SIGHTING - This can be done directly through this web site or you can send records to ourselves at cumbria.arg@gmail.com and we will enter the data for you
We cannot make a difference across the county - unless people record their findings !
The weather put a lot of organised events on hold sadly during August, however volunteers have been busy behind the scenes, with the collaboration of data from surveys undertaken, building a data base for the county and planning training and events for next year.
A presentation is planned for October to introduce the new University of Cumbria Zoology students to slow worms and Cumbria ARG opportunities and our end of season meeting at Lakeland wildlife Oasis will be at the beginning of November (date and time to be confirmed).
Three of the committee members enjoyed a wee holiday on the Isle of Mull in September with various aves and mammals observed. A small group of Common toads living in the cottage garden were the only amphibian or reptiles observed!
Toad patrols are for supporting amphibians and reptiles on their migration to their breeding ponds by helping them cross busy roads (by stopping them getting squashed!)
The patrols are supported by Froglife Toads on the roads but each site is managed individually and sites need to be registered with Froglife and all volunteers taking part need to be registered for insurance purposes
Contact details for our South Cumbria patrols: Email address for Toad Coordinator Matt sandstoadpatrols@gmail.com
Contact details for Appleby patrol: Email address for Toad coordinator Suzie cumbria.arg@gmail.com
Contact for Ambleside patrol: Email address for Toad coordinator Ashleighedoutreach.cumbria.arg@gmail.com
An introduction to amphibian and reptiles biosecurity Biosecurity_web_page.pdf
A disease guide for fieldworkers Amphibian_Disease_Precautions_A_Guide_for_UK.pdf
A disease alert to protect wild amphibian and reptile species by reducing disease risk in captive amphibian and reptilesReducing_disease_risks.pdf
Colour sheet to download THOM_Toad_colouring_sheet.pdf
Two age groups
6 and under
7 years to 12 years
The competition will be judged by Charlie Roberts and there is one prize per category!
Please send an image of your entry to cumbria.arg@gmail.com remember to add your name and age.
One entry per person.
Closing date 1st of December 2023 at 12 midday
To record the species you see Record_Sheet.pdf
Information posters
A quick introduction to amphibian and reptiles for primary school children Primary_School_Amphibians_and_Reptiles_poster.pdf
Adders are Amazing Activities
Practical activity 5_Food_chains_and_webs.pdf
Arts and crafts activity 7_Wind_snakes_activity.pdf
Practical activity 8_Adder_hunt_quiz_activity.pdf
Arts and crafts activity 9_Adder_stone_trails_activity.pdf
Arts and crafts activity 13_Adder_nightlights.pdf
Arts and crafts activity 15_Adder_amulets.pdf
Arts and crafts activity 17_Adder_bookmarks.pdf
Baking activity 18_Snake_snacks.pdf
English and literature activity 19_Adder_poetry_activity.pdf
Class work
Power point looking at differences between snakes and lizards (emphasis on Slow worms) Reptile_school_talk_slow_worms.pptx
Frog and toads
Basic images showing frog metamorphosis Frog_cycle.pdf
A frog mask template to decorate Frog_mask_template.pdf
Detailed Information on Common frogs, Common toads and NatterjacksNative_frog_and_toad_posters.pdf
Mix and match game - matching the correct definitions to the correct speciesMix_and_Match_Game.pdf
A quick guide to spawn identification ARG_UK_Spawn_ID_.pdf
Toad patrol involvement for children and vulnerable people Toad_Patrols_for_Children_and_Vulnerable_people.JPG
Amphibian and Reptile Quiz
Identify the correct species by just their eyeball. A tricky but fun quiz! Eye_ID_quiz.pdf
Mix and match game - match the correct habitat to the correct species Habitat_Mix_and_Match_.pdf
Note down the correct habitat or habitats for the species. Similar to the mix and match game but with pictures!Habitat_Quiz.pdf
Reptile Activities
Arts and crafts activity Snake_rock_poster_activity_.pdf
ID guides from ARC Trust and ARG UK:
How to record your sightings How to record your sightings
Membership Membership tutorial
Upcoming events will be listed here.
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