Herpetofauna Children's Books! How Very Very Nice! - AVAILABLE NOW!

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation have been working with author and artist Leon Hill to create two new and exciting children's books.

These books arose from the desire of both the artist and ARC to raise awareness of the complex environment in which reptiles and amphibians live.

We are pleased to have supported the production of these books through our long-standing involvement with the artist (he also creates our Christmas cards!). Leon's story and pictures show some of the wide diversity of wildlife that we are working to conserve and how they depend on each other. We're sure Leon's books will inspire readers to enjoy and appreciate nature more and, perhaps, become involved in helping to conserve it.

These books are now available to buy direct from ARC with a percentage of the profits going toward our important work.

• How Very Very Nice! (Paperback) - £4.50 (plus p&p 1st Class - £1.00, 2nd Class - £1.25)
• And After That He Ate Them! (Paperback) - £6.00 (plus p&p 1st Class - £2.50, 2nd Class - £2.00)
• And After That He Ate Them! (Hardback) - £7.50 (plus p&p 1st Class - £2.50, 2nd Class - £2.00)

If you'd like to purchase some of these lovely books please contact us via e-mail at enquiries@arc-trust.org or call us on 01202 391319.

BRITISH HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THAMES & CHILTERN HERPETOLOGICAL GROUP

Joint meeting Sunday 21st October 2012, 2.30 – 7.00 pm 

at the Drake Hall, Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Ave, Amersham, Bucks, HP6 5AH

Chairman: Simon Townso

2.30 – 3.00 Arrival and coffee/refreshments

3.00 – 3.40 Matthew Rendle (Zoological Society of London): ‘Breeding Tree Boas in Captivity’.

3.40 – 4.20 Richard Griffiths (Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent): ‘Chameleon Trade and Conservation in Madagascar’.

Short break and refreshments/informal session (see below)

Chairman: Colin Melsom

5.00 – 5.40 Doug Bell (Blue Iguana Recovery Programme, Cayman Islands): ‘Blue Iguana Recovery Programme – Captive Breeding and Release of Cyclura lewisi’.

5.40 – 6.20 Tell Hicks ‘Herpetology of the Galapagos Islands’.

6.20 -7.00 Further refreshments and an Open and Informal Session for members – Exhibition of captive bred animals and items/posters of herpetological interest (including science, books, art, photography). There will be limited space for up to 20 exhibits, plus the Thames & Chiltern herpetological shop for equipment/dry goods.  Members who would like space should contact Simon Townson (01438 219522 eves or s.townson@imperial.ac.uk) or Colin Melsom (01494 865088) eves or colinmelsom@sky.com) 

Amersham is easy to get to via J18 of the M25 or by tube/rail to Amersham station. Parking and entrance to the meeting are free.

ARC Frineds Day!

Come and spend the day with us in Dorset to meet some of the ARC team, learn about our native amphibians and reptiles and get a tour around one of our reserves to see them in the wild!

Saturday 15th September 2012

at
The Heatherlands Centre - Parley Common
Barns Road, Tricketts Cross,
Ferndown, Dorset BH22 8AS

The day will start with a general introduction to ARC and will be followed by presentations on habitat management, amphibians and reptiles. After a break for lunch we will venture out on to one of our reserves to show you around and go reptile spotting! Live animals will be present for you to meet on the day along with experts to answer any questions you might have. Download the ARC Friends Day Programme here

Friends of ARC can come for FREE and family and friends of members for £5 per person. Places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment!

For more information and to book your place please email Angela before Friday 17th August at angela.reynolds@arc-trust.org.

ARG UK MIDLANDS REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Saturday 22 September 2012
9:30am – 4:00pm
at
National Forest Waterside Centre
Bath Yard, Bath Lane, Moira
Swadlincote, DE12 6BA

The registration fee (£12.00 per person , £6.00 for members of ARG UK) includes a full programme of talks and a buffet lunch. Download your booking form and provisional programme here. Make sure you register by Friday 14th September!

Bournemouth Naturally Wildlife Walks and Workshops

Bournemouth Naturally is a new project, based at Bournemouth Natural Science Society, that aims to get people out onto their local greenspace recording wildlife. Discover the wildlife on your doorstep and help build up a picture of the biodiversity of Bournemouth. We need you to get out onto the wonderful greenspaces of Bournemouth and start recording your wildlife sightings; the BNSS (and partners) are offering a variety of workshops and guided walks if you would like some help getting started.

Saturday 4th August – Dragonfly Identification Workshop and Walk
Indoor Identification Workshop - 10am BNSS
A talk by local dragonfly expert and vice county recorder Andrew Brown, this will include information about dragonfly and damselfly ecology and guidance on identification of the wonderful variety of species encountered on sites in Bournemouth.
Dragonfly/Damselfly Identification Walk - 2pm Iford Meadows
A visit to a local greenspace adjacent to the river Stour where you can you can learn more about the habitat of dragonflies and damselflies and practice identification under the guidance of Andrew.

Saturday 15th September – Reptile Identification Workshop and Walk
Indoor Identification Workshop - 10am BNSS
Talk by Richard Sharp from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation outlining the ecology and identification of reptile species found in Bournemouth with an exercise to practice identification skills and survey techniques.
Reptile Identification Walk - 2pm Turbary Common, Bournemouth.
A visit to an important local site that is home to all six native species of reptile, learn more about heathland conservation and practice your reptile identification skills under Richards guidance.

All Bournemouth Naturally wildlife walks and workshops are free to attend. Please note:

• Workshops may be limited by numbers so please contact project officer Heather Dixon (contact details below) if you are interested in coming along to a workshop or walk.
• Outdoor sessions may be subject to cancellation in bad weather so please provide an email address or contact number where possible.
• If attending both a workshop and a walk you will be required to have a form of transport between the two locations however there may be an opportunity to share a lift so please let Heather know before the session if you will need transport.
• When coming along to all day sessions please bring a packed lunch, suitable footwear for walking and suitable clothing for the weather conditions.
• Please be aware BNSS is not in a position to provide a qualified first-aider for guided walks and workshops.
• We will be announcing dates for many more wildlife workshops and walks during the course of the project so please keep an eye on the Bournemouth Natural Sciences Society website.

For more information please contact the Bournemouth Naturally Project Officer – Heather Dixon at Bournemouth Natural Science Society (BNSS), 39 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3NS or Email: heatherdixon@bnss.org.uk or Mob: 07590909933.