DARN is a network of people in Dorset interested in our native reptiles and amphibians. Its purpose is to promote the conservation, recording and appreciation of native amphibians and reptiles in the county of Dorset. DARN serves as a means of communication between volunteers, professionals and the general public. DARN members pay an annual fee of £6 and then when suitably trained they can take part in our widespread reptile surveys. These can be viewed once reptile surveyor status has been achieved. DARN is also running the SliC project - Slow-worms in Churchyards. We have rare reptile survey sites on FE and MOD land and we are continually adding new transects as we expand our activities across the county.
Dorset has 12 of the UK's 13 native amphibian and reptile species, and a handful of non-native species. Its internationally-important heathlands are famous as national strongholds for the rare reptiles - Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake - and southwest England's only populations of our second-rarest amphibian, the Natterjack Toad. With such an important wildlife heritage in Dorset, several wildlife NGOs have their headquarters in the county, including the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC). Together with the various statutory bodies and local authorities, this means Dorset has many wildlife professionals. DARN aims to form a link between all these people, and to nurture an appreciation among the general public for our herpetofaunal friends.
Sheila Dyason is Chair of DARN and you can email her at: sheiladyason2007@yahoo.co.uk with 'DARN' in the subject header. DARN Dispatches is a newsletter that is produced every two months, telling you of news, items of interest, and projects to get involved in; and there will be at least one annual meeting or event. Dorset is home to some of the most important reptile and amphibian populations in the country, with a high concentration of protected sites, and a buzz of conservation activities and research projects. There are endless opportunities for helping out by volunteering, and there are already many volunteers in the county who give their time towards projects helping to conserve our herpetofauna, and raise awareness.
The History of the DARN Group
DARN was set up as a surveying and recording group on 30/01/2020. Previously it had been an email and facebook group.
The founding members were Sheila Dyason as Chair, Catherine Dyason as Secretary, Pete Gillatt as Treasurer.
The Group started with rare reptile sites which Sheila had arranged with Forestry England to survey as part of HIWARG – the Hampshire Group. Some of them had been set up and monitored by David Tamarind who sadly died recently. There were not any widespread species surveys for members to get involved with so Sheila set up the SliC Project – Slow-worms in Churchyards - as a way to get members involved in surveying.
As of July 2021 DARN has 8 widespread reptile transects set up in north Dorset and three more rare reptile transects including one on MOD land. DARN is working with land owners and managers such as Forestry England, Butterfly Conservation, the Dorset Wildlife Trust, the MOD, church communities and private land owners.
DARN Dispatches 14
It is hard to believe that we are halfway through Summer. I don’t want a heatwave but some settled warm weather would be good and if the grass could just stop growing for a bit so we can find the refugia that would be great as well!
We welcome two new active reptile surveyors – one in Verwood and one in Purbeck. They are already sending in survey results which is great. Thank you both. We also have connections with a school which I have visited and their pond is teeming with wildlife particularly Frogs and Smooth and Palmate Newts. Grass Snakes and Toads have also been seen. So I am looking forward to seeing and hearing more from there. All very exciting.
Thank you also to existing surveyors and to those of you who send in records occasionally. Every record counts towards a better understanding of the location of Dorset’s amphibians and reptiles and the habitat that needs protecting.
On the subject of habitats, Forestry England have just confirmed that we can continue with the habitat management in Ringwood Forest and Hurn Forest over the Autumn and Winter. We shall be continuing with the four sites from last year plus others to be confirmed. DARN started a new research project last year to investigate if there was a better way for our volunteers to control Birch on our heathland sites. This has been extended to look at controlling Bracken as well. Some work has been on-going over the summer and thanks to Cathy for her help with this.
The SliC sites – Slow-worms in Churchyards – continue to produce results. Thank you to all the Land Managers that we work with for allowing us to survey on your land.
Allotments are still being surveyed and a Grass Snake has recently been spotted at one of them along with the Slow-worms and Toads.
A new transect is about to be set up as a rare reptile site and this will also involve habitat management at some point. I have not seen the site yet but I am waiting to hear from the Wildlife Ranger.
Other DARN projects are FARM – Farming with Amphibians and Reptiles in Mind – where landowners are wilding their fields and woods. One site has not recorded any reptiles yet but I have found two Dormouse nests which Cathy and I survey for under our Dormouse licences.
We are continuing to monitor the Wall Lizards at various sites with our NISER project – Non-native and Invasive Species, Escapees and Releases. They appear to be colonising garden further inland. Whether that is because of an increase in numbers or due to disturbance we do not yet know. There is evidence that some of the holes in the walls where they are regularly seen have been made larger as if someone has been trying to capture them.
My garden pond continues to be home to Frogs and Palmate Newts. The baby Frogs have just started to leave the water. Three Toads have also been seen and one has been under a tile for weeks. It has made a Toad print in the grass so it has obviously found a spot that is just right and it is not moving anywhere else. I have seen two of this year’s juvenile Slow-worms. They have been found with last years juveniles and adults as well. We have a population of 14+ Slow-worms. If anyone else has a garden pond or reptiles in their gardens I would love to hear from you.
It was good to see reptiles being featured on Springwatch recently. It was being broadcast from Arne and it highlighted the number of reptiles being eaten by raptors. Particularly gruesome was the female Sand Lizard whose eggs were being plucked out of the decapitated body and fed to young Kestrels, I think. Confirmation of the Wall Lizards at Corfe Castle was also interesting as I have not seen them there yet.
As I have said in previous Dispatches, if you are interested in becoming a DARN reptile surveyor, email me and we will arrange for ARGWEB and field survey training if it is needed and then you will be given access to our widespread transect sites.
As usual casual sightings of amphibians and reptiles can be added to Casual Sightings on the DARN website: www.groups.arguk.org/darn or on Record Pool: www.recordpool.org.uk or email the details to: sheiladyason2007@yahoo.co.uk. Historic records are fine as well. If you are not sure just email or message me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Keep safe!
Sheila Dyason
Chair of DARN
Conservation opportunities for everyone!
DARN Dispatches 13
Spring has finally come, and I am looking forward to some warm, settled weather.
Habitat management, over the autumn and winter, was a great success although more could have been achieved with more volunteers. Ringwood Forest and Hurn Forest were the two main areas we focused on. DARN started its new research project to investigate if there is a better way for our volunteers to control Birch on our heathland sites. Thank you to all the volunteers from DARN and HIWARG who participated.
DARN also helped Freshwater Habitats Trust with some water sampling in Ringwood and Hurn Forests and I am very pleased to say that the phosphate and nitrate levels were very low indicating unpolluted water.
#darnspawnandeggcount2023 was designed for people to report their frog spawn and newt sighting but it was mainly my garden ponds that were recorded. A maximum of 69 Palmate Newts were seen and 15 spawn clumps. The tadpoles have now emerged, and the water is bubbling with activity.
#darngardenslowworms2023 has just started and anyone can report their garden sightings. So far, I have three juvenile Slow-worms from last year, two adult males and an adult female in my garden under felt and roofing tiles.
Last weekend Tina led a training session on her favourite site for a new surveyor and we saw 65 reptiles including all three lizard species and Adders. A special thank you to Tina for sharing her knowledge and reptile surveying skills.
Other DARN projects are FARM – Farming with Amphibians and Reptiles in Mind – where landowners are wilding their fields and woods; and CAMPAR – CAMPsites with Amphibians and Reptiles – which will add a new dimension to staycation holidays this year.
We are continuing to monitor the Wall Lizards at various sites with our NISER project – Non-native and Invasive Species, Escapees and Releases.
The SliC project – Slow-worms in Churchyards - is also ongoing as is our Allotment project.
As I have said in previous Dispatches, if you are interested in becoming a DARN reptile surveyor, email me and we will arrange for ARGWEB and field survey training if it is needed and then you will be given access to our widespread transect sites.
As usual casual sightings of amphibians and reptiles can be added to Casual Sightings on the DARN website: www.groups.arguk.org/darn or on Record Pool: www.recordpool.org.uk or email the details to: sheiladyason2007@yahoo.co.uk. Historic records are fine as well. If you are not sure just email or message me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Keep safe!
Sheila Dyason
Chair of DARN
Conservation opportunities for everyone!
DARN Dispatches 12
I hope you have all had a busy summer surveying and submitting lots of records on ARGWEB and Record Pool. Our GIS map is certainly becoming a multi-coloured patchwork of dots and diamonds.
Habitat management has just started with DARN undertaking a new research project to investigate if there is a better way for our volunteers to control Birch on our heathland sites.
Other new projects are FARM – Farming with Amphibians and Reptiles in Mind – where landowners are wilding their fields and woods; and CAMPAR – CAMPsites with Amphibians and Reptiles – which will add a new dimension to staycation holidays next year.
We are continuing to monitor the Wall Lizards at various sites with our NISER project – Non-native and Invasive Species, Escapees and Releases.
The SliC project – Slow-worms in Churchyards - is also ongoing as is our Allotment project.
David, our foreign correspondent in Greece, continues to send us wonderful photos of reptile sightings from his back garden and beyond and he is now trying to entice our surveyors to join him snake hunting.
We have just held another Committee Meeting to discuss plans for habitat management and how we are going to expand our range of activities next year. Thanks to all the Committee Members for their hard work and to our other reptile surveyors. Recruited another surveyor just a few days ago. Thanks also to our friends at HIWARG – the Hampshire Group – who continue to help us in so many ways.
As I have said in previous Dispatches, if you are interested in becoming a DARN reptile surveyor, email me and we will arrange for ARGWEB and field survey training if it is needed and then you will be given access to our widespread transect sites.
As usual casual sightings of amphibians and reptiles can be added to Casual Sightings on the DARN website: www.groups.arguk.org/darn or on Record Pool: www.recordpool.org.uk or email the details to: sheiladyason2007@yahoo.co.uk. Historic records are fine as well. If you are not sure just email or message me.
I look forward to hearing from you
Keep safe!
Sheila Dyason
Chair of DARN
Conservation opportunities for everyone!
DARN Dispatches 11
16 Smooth Snakes on one transect
It has been a while since the last DARN Dispatches but we have not been idle! We are continuing to survey our existing DARN sites and 12 more rare reptile sites are planned. The first ones will be set up on Friday. As mentioned above, 16 Smooth Snakes were found at one of our sites recently which was amazing.
We are continuing to monitor the expanding range of the Wall Lizards at various sites with our NISER project – Non-native and Invasive Species, Escapees and Releases.
The SliC project – Slow-worms in Churchyards - is also ongoing with Slow-worms being found at most sites with an occasional Grass Snake and Common Lizard.
The Allotment project is still gathering records and we are beginning to build up a map of how amphibians and reptiles use the sites.
A new project is BASH – Birch Alleviation on Sensitive Heathland. Birch is increasingly and continually shading the heathland areas so DARN is going to trial different methods to control the Birch to see which is most effective and suitable for volunteers to undertake.
We have also set up a DARN Headshot Library so that we can identify old friends and follow their progress and also see who else is living in the area. This will also, over time, help with gauging population sizes.
David, our foreign correspondent in Greece, continues to send us wonderful photos of reptile sightings from his back garden and beyond including fabulous blue skies and deserted beaches. Thanks David. Keep them coming! Gordon Burch has also been giving us live updates of his trip to Dorset and other countries. Joe Kaplonek seems to have found a good site to explore his photographic skills.
We have just held another Committee Meeting to discuss plans for habitat management later in the year and to catch-up on all our successes so far this year. Thanks to all the Committee Members for their hard work and to our other reptile surveyors. Thanks also to our friends at HIWARG – the Hampshire Group – who have helped us in so many ways and who enjoy the occasional trip over the border to Dorset to enjoy our wildlife as well.
As I have said in previous Dispatches, if you are interested in becoming a DARN reptile surveyor, email me and we will arrange for ARGWEB and field survey training if it is needed and then you will be given access to our widespread transect sites.
As usual casual sightings of amphibians and reptiles can be added to Casual Sightings on the DARN website: www.groups.arguk.org/darn or on Record Pool: www.recordpool.org.uk or email the details to: sheiladyason2007@yahoo.co.uk. Historic records are fine as well. If you are not sure just email or message me.
I look forward to hearing from you
Keep safe!
Sheila Dyason
Chair of DARN
Conservation opportunities for everyone!
DARN Dispatches 10
Happy New Year!
One of the three Wall Lizards Cathy and I found on 5th January at Boscombe. Having just read a paper on ‘Predator-elicited foot shakes in Wall Lizards’ I was delighted to see one of the Wall Lizards demonstrating this. I will be looking for other Wall Lizards along the cliffs and for Wall Lizards on Portland.
So this year DARN will be continuing with the SliC Project – Slow-worms in Churchyards. Cathy will also be co-ordinating the NISER Project - Non-native Invasive Species Escapees and Releases. Starting off with Wall Lizards and then anything else that is encountered along the way. Therefore we are interested in sightings of any non-native species as well as native ones. This will help us to better understand the herps of Dorset.
A very successful habitat management task was carried out just before Christmas at Hurn Forest. A massive thank you to all the DARN and HIWARG volunteers who came to help.
With the mild weather amphibians started to return to their breeding ponds in December including 5 Palmate Newts and a frog in my ponds. Spawn counts will be the first major survey of the year. Any spawn found can be recorded as usual on Casual Sightings on the DARN website: www.groups.arguk.org/darn or on Record Pool: www.recordpool.org.uk or email the details to: sheiladyason2007@yahoo.co.uk. Historic records are fine as well. So if you normally have frogspawn in your pond and there is not any this year, last year’s sighting can still be added. If you are not sure just email or message me.
David, our foreign correspondent in Greece, continues to send us wonderful photos of reptile sightings from his back garden and beyond including fabulous blue skies and deserted beaches. Thanks David. Keep them coming!
We are going to hold another zoom Committee Meeting next month to discuss plans for the new survey season. Warren is still busy organising and setting up more transects across Dorset. We are hoping to attend a couple of public engagement events this year – have gazebo will travel.
As I’ve said in previous Dispatches, if you are interested in becoming a DARN reptile surveyor, email me and we will arrange for ARGWEB and field survey training if it is needed and then you will be given access to our widespread transect sites.
I look forward to hearing from you
Keep safe!
Sheila Dyason
Chair of DARN
Conservation opportunities for everyone!
Turbary Common's sand lizard population has been declining steadily for years, due to the lack of bare sand available for egg-laying. Over time, vegetation grows over bare ground patches, and wind winnows away sand to leave a gravel lag that is too hard for sand lizards to dig through. We aim to dig lots of small bare ground patches about 1x1m, within the heather, using garden tools (fork, spade, mattock etc), to aid breeding success. Female sand lizards lay their eggs in burrows about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) deep, around the end of May/early June, in bare patches of sand in sunny positions.
This DARN event is open to all. Meet 9.00am, main entrance gate on Turbary Park Avenue. We should finish around 1.00pm. Some of us may break for refreshment locally, and then carry on a while if we are still able. Please wear stout footwear, old clothes, bring spade etc if possible, and be prepared for some physical activity. We look forward to seeing you on the 14th. This task should bring quick results, we hope, with immediate benefits to the sand lizard population.
After last year's excellent conference in Somerset, the SW England regional ARG UK meeting this year is being hosted by Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group. The programme and booking form are now available. The price for registration including lunch is £20 for ARG members/unwaged, or £35 for all others. Details from devonrag@hotmail.com.
The annual Herp Workers Meeting - the highlight of the herpetologist's social calendar - (25),26,27 January 2013.
The HWM has been established for over 25 years, and this unique and popular event occupies the centre stage of the herpetological calendar, attracting a broad range of participants from across the UK including volunteers, professional ecologists, statutory nature conservationists, students & academics.
The programme is almost ready for next year's meeting which will be at the Edinburgh Conference Centre at Heriot-Watt University on the Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 January 2013 (with social activity starting on Friday 25 Jan). Various topics will be discussed through presentations and workshops. Here is a sneak preview:
Flyer and booking form here: http://www.arguk.org/download-document/171-herpetofauna-workers-meeting-2013-booking-form-programme
There will be a DARN great crested newt training evening on Saturday 27th April 2013, 7.00-10.30pm.
Location: Leeson House (National Trust), Langton Matravers, Swanage, Dorset BH19 3EU - www.leesonhouse.com
Order of the evening:
1900-1930 – Powerpoint presentation on GCN biology, ecology & survey techniques
1930-2000 – Egg-searching (& netting if no risk of turbidity), Leeson House pond
2000-2130 – Break to wait for dark (pub meal for those interested)
2130-2230 - Torchlight survey, Leeson House pond (moving on to Green Pool BHS/ARC reserve if necessary and/or sufficient interest).
If you have a good pond net and/or a powerful torch, bring them along. Any assistance from experienced newters welcome too. Bring suitable clothing for the weather, and ideally wellies on your feet. I’ll need you to sign a DARN membership form for insurance purposes.
Contact Chris Gleed-Owen chris@cgoecology.com if you plan to attend. Ideally numbers won’t exceed a dozen or so.
Great crested newt training evening at Leeson House (Dorset County Council residential field centre), Langton Matravers, Swanage, Dorset BH19 3EU - www.leesonhouse.com - Saturday 27th April 2013, 7pm until 10.30pm approximately.
Order of the evening:
1900-1930 – Powerpoint presentation on GCN biology, ecology & survey techniques, Leeson House
1930-2000 – Egg-searching (& netting if no risk of turbidity), Leeson House pond
2000-2115 – Break to wait for dark (pub meal in The Ship Inn for those interested)
2115-2230 - Torchlight survey, Leeson House pond, and moving on to Green Pool, Norden (BHS/ARC reserve) if necessary and/or sufficient interest.
If you have a good pond net and/or a powerful torch, bring them along. Any assistance from experienced newters welcome too. Bring suitable clothing for the weather, and ideally wellies on your feet. I’ll need you to sign a DARN membership form for insurance purposes.
7:30 pm at the Bakers Arms, Poole. An informal chat to introduce Sheila to DARN members and to discuss plans and actions for the coming year.
Herp Identification - downloadable colour charts
Amphibian Identification - downloadable colour cards
Reptile Identification - downloadable colour cards
Newt Eggs & Larvae - downloadable colour cards
Its_a_small_newt_but_which_one_1.pdf
Dogs & Adders - downloadable advice sheet.
Improving Herp habitat
Creating Garden Ponds - downloadable booklet
ARGWEB Tutorials
ARGWEB Pond Survey Recording Guide
ARGWEB Reptile Transect Survey Guide
Types of Sightings typically recorded on ARGWEB
How to record a transect survey data
Herp diseases - recognise & report
Snake Fungal Disease
Toad fly (Lucilia bufonivora)
Amphibian Chytridiomycosis
Ranavirus Disease
Reptile Slough Genebank - collection & submission of found sloughs
Other
Useful glossary of terms often used within the herpetological field. (Credit due - unknown)
Kids stuff - Educational items for the young ones
Pond pack
payPal Donate button
Upcoming events will be listed here.
View All | Find out how to get a mini-website for your ARG
© ARG UK Local Groups mini-websites 2023
Wind powered websites by Aye-aye Design.