Welcome to Cumbria Amphibian and Reptile Group! (CARG)

As a volunteer run group our aims are to promote the conservation of our native reptiles and amphibians here in Cumbria. Improving the knowledge of the distribution of our native species, educate and increase awareness via surveys and practical conservation.

We are looking for members that would be interested in getting involved in local conservation and receiving training, surveying, attending talks and sharing knowledge and experiences.

IMPORTANT UPDATE 

From ARG UK

We have very worrying news from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (more commonly known as JNCC), the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation. Every 5 years they review the legislation protecting our native wildlife - the Quinquennial Review (QRR). We have learned that the current round seeks to remove all of our widespread species of amphibian and reptile from Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, through changing the Eligibility Criteria for these schedules so that only 'critically endangered' species are considered.

Please read and share the link - and write to your MP (Link to members of Parliament ) ( Letter to MP template)to protest about this move which would remove legal protections from our common frogs, toads, small newts, slow-worms, common lizards, grass snakes and adders!

Link to summary from ARG UK

Specifically:

• There would no longer be a requirement to consider any of the widespread species (excepting Great Crested Newt) under planning protocols.
• It would remove protection from killing or injury from our only native venomous snake - the adder - so it would no longer be a wildlife crime to persecute or kill them, which could be the final blow for an animal already on the brink
• It would become legal to trade wild-caught British widespread amphibians and reptiles - which poses a huge biosecurity risk, since this could result in wild animals being moved around. We have already identified a significant threat to our native newts should Bsal enter wild populations in the UK (it is already present in captive collections), a disease that has led to >99% mortality in fire salamanders in The Netherlands and Belgium - for more on this please go to our Bsal web page. Other diseases include Ranavirus, Severe Perkinsea Infection (SPI), and snake fungal disease.
• Removal from the following lists of priority species and habitats in England, Scotland, and Wales, from Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 (England), Section 7 of the Environment Act (Wales), Section 2(4) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

As a group CARG offer the following opportunities                                                                                             

We are available and qualified to give

• ·School talks
• ·Group presentations
• ·Field trips

Training days carried out by expert ecologists

• ·Identification skills
• ·Species ecology
• ·Methods of surveying
• ·To help monitor our native amphibians and reptiles (non-licensed species only)

Social events

• ·Walks and talks
• ·Conferences
• ·Presentations
• ·Public events
• ·Fundraising

Tailor made research expeditions in collaboration with Project Wild Gambia

The annual membership fee is £5  (free for under 16's and students).

To become a member send an email request to

cumbria.arg@gmail.com

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.

As a member, you can be involved in -

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

ARGWEB Login

"Finding Sanctuary" Project 

In many urban locations small green sites exist, this can include churchyards and burial grounds (allotments, golf courses, parks, commons and school grounds). These areas can represent some of the few remaining peaceful havens for wildlife and people in an increasingly busy world. Even in the countryside, much of our biodiversity has been lost to intensive agriculture and infrastructure development.

These locations may then also provide a welcome respite for many of our native creatures including birds, wildflowers, fungi and lichens, mammals and invertebrates. These areas are often overlooked and can be an important home for our native amphibians and reptiles, which are often residing in the damp corners that so often characterise old churchyards for example.

We often have reports of common frogs and toads, newts, slow-worms, common lizards, grass snakes, and in some exceptionally special places even our most vulnerable native snake, the adder.

However, many reports are anecdotal, and whilst many churchyards and subsequent green areas have a ‘wild area’, this is often simply left and little is done to map the wildlife using it, or to target habitat improvement for specific species.

This project aims to focus on our forgotten creatures, those that inhabit the forgotten areas.

Activities will be coordinated through our county-based network of volunteer amphibian and reptile groups (ARGs).

Cumbria ARG will work with its local diocese, and other faiths, and local communities to identify burial grounds and green spaces that may be of greatest importance to wildlife, based on their location, existing habitat or habitat connectivity, and the passion and interest of the local community

Finding_Sanctuary_Project_Pack.docx

CARG Survey group

Up to date COVID 19 Risk Assessment ARG_UK_Generic_Risk_Assessment_June_202128572.doc

An introduction to amphibians and reptiles on allotments Allotments_leaflet.pdf

Some ID guides from ARC Trust and ARG UK:

Amphibian ID guide

Reptile ID guide

Education Material for Schools and Parents

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 Slide1.JPG

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

Video Tutorials 

How to record your sightings  How to record your sightings

Membership Membership tutorial