Welcome to Cumbria Amphibian and Reptile Group! (CARG)

Beginners reptile survey day at Cliburn Moss (for members)

An introduction into basic ecology, habitat and survey techniques for the Common lizard.

Six places available and a commitment to carry on survey through the summer 2/3 visits per person maximum.

10.00am till 2.00pm.

By kind permission Natural England (Colin Auld)

Cliburn moss site and directions: NE540.pdf

Book your place cumbria.arg@gmail.com

Finglandrigg_Woods_.pdf

Various dates.

Adder monitoring at Finglandrigg Woods (Natural England).

Photographing adders for individual identification.

For population estimates and for the calculation of habitat range.

Must be a member (for insurance purposes).

If you would like to participate please email cumbria.arg@gmail.com

Photos by Guy Broome (2019)

Cliburn moss

Thursday 4th of July

Common lizard survey 9am -12pm

If you would like to come and help survey common lizards at Cliburn moss tomorrow please email cumbria.arg@gmail.com for further details.

Membership forms and voluntary forms are a requirement (found on 'About us page' for insurance purposes, they can be emailed or brought on the day. £5 fee covers the year, however free for students and under 16's.

A guided amphibian and reptile walk around the Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at Foulshaw Moss.

Please use facebook page link to show interest.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/589703024785031/?ref=bookmarks

Saturday the 31st of August at 10.00am a guided walk given by reserve manager Kevin Scott will take place around the Cumbria Wildlife Trust site of Drumburgh moss.

The trust has seen a reduced number of sightings over the last couple of years of Adders and Common lizards and they would like Cumbria ARG volunteers to carry out a survey to estimate the populations of these reptiles.

The actual survey will commence early next year and people that would like to be involved are required to be CARG members for insurance purposes. Guidance and training on survey techniques will be given prior to the start of the survey.

For more information, history, location, fauna and flora that can be observed at Drumburgh see the following link:

https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/drumburgh-moss

To register your interest or for more information email: cumbria.arg@gmail.com 

University of Cumbria, Fusehill St. Carlisle

Learning Gateway, Lecturer Theatre 6pm

An Informative talk on a two year study investigating the individual indentification of the cryptic lizard  - Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

Also information on Cumbria ARG, how to join and how to get involved with the counties native amphibians and reptiles.

Sunday the 10th of November 10.00 am onwards we have a end of season trip to Lakeland Wildlife Oasis at Milnthorpe LA7 7FE

• Meeting at 10 am at the Oasis we will be given a personal guided tour of the herp enclosures (animal handling included !!!!!!!)

• The committee and members will have an end of season meeting, reflecting on the first few months and what as a group we have planned for 2020 

• Non members are more than welcome to join us if they wish to meet us, they would like to become members, they have ideas for future events etc.and to find out what we have planned

• The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace

• The entrance price for this visit has been kindly reduced to £7 per adult - this also includes a CARG organised return visit  - FREE OF CHARGE - at the beginning of next year !!!!!!!!

Link to website https://wildlifeoasis.co.uk/

hi everyone. i'm starting to get my head around toad patrols for this year. if you've never heard of toad patrols its basically supporting amphibians on their migration to their breeding ponds by helping them cross busy roads (i.e. stopping them from getting squashed!). the patrols are coordinated across the country by Frog Life (more info here: https://www.froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads) but each site/crossing is managed individually. the sites need to be registered with Frog Life and all volunteers taking part also need to be registered (for insurance). i have attached the pack produced by Frog Life that has all the info in as well as the volunteer form

I manage two sites, one in South Cumbria and the other just over the border in North Lancashire. managing the sites basically involves coordinating volunteers to make sure as much as possible there is someone out patrolling when the amphibians are moving.

there are a number of patrol sites around cumbria (these can be found following the link above) but its also possible to get new sites registered. i am in the process of contacting West Cumbria Rivers Trust who manage a couple of sites as well as the managers of the other Cumbria sites. my aim is to have a network set up so we can support each other with advertising for volunteers and with letting each other know when the migration has started

if anyone is interested in finding out more about the patrols (how they work, what you need to do etc), would like to help with mine (yes please!) or has a site in mind that may need one i am more then happy for you to msg me or email me: mail@wildlifeoasis.co.uk

ill be posting more info in this group as and when i get it including letting you all know when the migration startsToad-Patrol-Pack-for-Patrollers.pdf

Many Thanks

Marr Carr

The following link will lead to information, registration details, presentations and workshops being held at the conference, held in Southport this coming February 

https://www.arc-trust.org/Event/hwm2020

Herps Workers Meeting 2020

Annual general meeting for CARG committee and members

15th March -  The Old Courthouse Shap CA10 3NL    2pm to 5pm