North Merseyside Amphibian and Reptile Group
About us
About Us
NMARG was formed in 2005 and is a group of about 70 members who are mostly involved with the conservation and monitoring of the reptiles and amphibians found in the area, especially the rarest two species, the Merseyside Race Sand Lizard and the Natterjack Toad.
During the Winter months, we undertake habitat management work, in partnership with other ARG groups, the Gems in the Dunes project and the Sefton Council Coast and Countryside Ranger Service. This vital work involves the clearance of unwanted scrub and trees, especially Sea Buckthorn, a highly invasive alien shrub on the Sefton Coast, which would otherwise shade out the precious Sand Lizard and Natterjack habitat. In the Spring, NMARG members also help to create and maintain the patches of bare sand essential for Sand Lizard egg laying.
During the Spring and Summer months we spend a large amount of time recording and monitoring the local reptile and amphibian species, especially the rarer species. NMARG's EPS licensed members also help to provide training in reptile and amphibian surveying.
Anyone wishing to get involved, seeking advice or supplying records are very welcome. Please contact Mike Brown at mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk
News
News
Scrub clearance tasks November-December 2018
Our first two habitat management tasks of the current Winter, held jointly with the Gems in the Dunes staff and volunteers, clearing and burning Sea Buckthorn and other scrub from important Sand Lizard sites, have been completed successfully. Many thanks to the Gems in the Dunes staff for organising the fires and goodies so efficiently. We will be holding further tasks at regular intervals through the Winter, and these will be advertised in the Events section very soon.
Natterjacks breeding in full swing
With the plenty of water in the Sefton Coast Natterjack breeding pools this year, it looks like being a bumper year for Natterjack breeding, with the dunes resonating to the sound of the croaking males every evening and spawn strings appearing in the shallows of many of the pools now.
Anyone who would like to go on one of the guided evening walks to see the Natterjacks breeding, please contact gems-in-the-dunes@arc-trust.org
More Buckthorn Clearance, 17th December 2017
On Sunday, December 17th, despite the incessant rain and drizzle, a amll group of NMARG members cleared a further area of Sea Buckthorn, in a dune slack and south-west facing slope adjacent to the area cleared on 26th November, on the edge of the grazing enclosure on the Ainsdale LNR. It is hoped that this will encourage Sand Lizards to spread landwards from the more frontal dunes.
Buckthorn Bashing Day, 26th November, 2017
On a bright, but very blustery day, we managed to clear Sea Buckthorn from a 100 metre stretch of south-east facing sand dune ridge at Ainsdale, making the habitat more suitable for Sand Lizards and Natterjacks.
How have our rare herps fared this Summer, 2017?
Our two rare species of herps, the Natterjack and Sand Lizard on the Sefton Coast are always at the mercy of the elements when it comes to breeding success and every year throws up different conditions.
This year, because of the preceding dry Winter, many of the dune slack pools and 'scrapes' were already dry when the Natterjacks arrived to bred in them in the Spring, and others dried up soon after. In consequence, although final figures are not yet available, counts of successfully metamorphosed Natterjack toadlets in the summer were very low this year, with many sites producing none. This is not, however, a total catastrophe, as the Natterjack is a relatively long-lived animal, and experts consider that if one year in four is a good Natterjack breeding year, then the population will remain stable.
Sand Lizards lay their eggs in the sand and are then dependant on warmth and sunshine to hatch them.This year has seen a rather mixed bag of weather during the Summer and only a few hatchlings have been sighted so far. Hopefully, hopefully we will get some warm, sunny weather in September and October, to enable more successful hatching and to enable those hatchlings to feed up well before entering hibernation. In contrast to the Natterjack, Sand Lizard populations cannot be sustained unless there are frequent years of successful breeding.
Events
Events
Past Events
Show Upcoming EventsHabitat management for sand lizards
Sat 21st December, 2013 - Sun 22nd December, 2013
tree and scrub clearance on the Birkdale Dunes with the help of other ARG Group members. Please contact Mike Brown for further details.
Habitat management for sand lizards
Sat 25th January, 2014 - Sun 26th January, 2014
Continuing tree and scrub clearance for improving habitat for sand lizards in the Birkdale area, we will again be joined by two Chainsaw Operators from SWWARG, as well as several members of the South Lancashire ARG. More details later.
Habitat management for sand lizards
Sat 22nd February, 2014 - Sun 23rd February, 2014
Further scrub and tree removal in order to improve habitats for sand lizards. For this task we will be joined by a large contingent from the South Lancashire ARG !
Scrub removal Ainsdale
Sun 23rd March, 2014
Now that the bird nesting season is commencing, we are restricted to the removal of very invasive Sea Buckthorn and Poplar suckers and regrowth, using hand tools only. For this task, we will be attacking small Poplars and Sea Buckthorn at two sites in Ainsdale which were previously good Sand Lizard sites and will greatly benefit from even this more 'Gardening' type of work.
Natterjack Walks
Fri 18th April, 2014 - Sat 26th April, 2014
Natterjack Walks have been organised by Sefton Council and Natural England during the likely period for Natterjack Breeding, as follows :
Friday, 18th April Natural England - Ainsdale NNR - leader Pete Gahan
Saturday, 19th April Sefton Council - Hightown?
Friday, 25th April Sefton Council, meeting at Ainsdale Discovery Centre - leader John Gramauskas
Saturday, 26th April Natural England - Ainsdale NNR - leader Pete Gahan
For further details, see www.seftonsnaturalcoast.com and www.sefton.gov.uk
Bookings should be made as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.
Bookings for Sefton Council are on 0151 934 2967 and for Natural England on 01704 578774
Sand patch creation for Sand Lizards.
Sat 10th May, 2014 - Sun 11th May, 2014
We are creating sand patches for Sand Lizards on a long bank overgrown with grass, on a golf course where Sand Lizards formerly existed and have the potential to recolonise, in the Southport area.
Winter programme of conservation work
Sat 13th December, 2014 - Sun 14th December, 2014
Habitat management work for Sand Lizards at Ainsdale. Mainly clearance of invasive Sea Buckthorn , Poplar and other scrub.
Habitat Management Task No.2
Fri 9th January, 2015 - Sun 11th January, 2015
Continuation of the scrub and small tree clearance started on the first task in December at Ainsdale, and further scrub and tree clearance at North Bikdale dunes, for the benefit of sand lizards and natterjacks. For this task, we will be joined by members of the South Lancs Amphibian and Reptile Group.
Anyone wishing to help, please contact Mike Brown by email, at mb001b9658@blueyonder.co.uk
Habitat management weekend at Ainsdale
Sat 31st January, 2015 - Sun 1st February, 2015
Our third big habitat management weekend of the Winter will take place in an area of old relict dunes close to Ainsdale, when we will again be joined by members of SWWARG, armed with their chainsaws. The aim is to clear trees and scrub, especially Sea Buckthorn, in order to encourage the spread of a small colony of Sand Lizards, as well as benefitting the Common Lizard population there. Anyone interested in joining us, please contact Mike at the email address below.
We are also planning to hold our AGM on the Saturday, after the task.
Habitat management weekend, February 14/15
Sat 14th February, 2015 - Sun 15th February, 2015
For our fourth habitat management weekend, in mid-February, 2015, we will be continuing with essential tree and scrub clearance for Sand Lizards and Natterjacks on the Sefton Coast. NMARG will again be assisted by two chainsaw operators from SWWARG for this task. Further details will be given at a later date.
Photo gallery
Photo Gallery
Contact us
Contact Us
Mike Brown (chair)
Upcoming Events
Upcoming events will be listed here.
Latest News
- Scrub clearance tasks November-December 2018
18/12/2018 1:07 am - Natterjacks breeding in full swing
18/04/2018 9:23 pm - More Buckthorn Clearance, 17th December 2017
18/12/2017 12:37 am - Buckthorn Bashing Day, 26th November, 2017
26/11/2017 10:58 pm - How have our rare herps fared this Summer, 2017?
03/09/2017 10:26 am
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