Adder DNA research to help halt declines

BBC Breakfast ran a story this morning on the decline of adders. The Institute of Zoology is running a dna research project to help halt the decline of adder populations. DNA swab samples are being collected from a number of animals in order to ascertain levels of in-breeding. Filming showed Nigel Hand on a reserve in Somerset collecting samples for analysis. Catch up with this story at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13126148

Conservation Help for Wales’s Real Dragons!

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) announce the start of a new post dedicated to the conservation of Welsh amphibians, reptiles and their habitats.

Mark Barber, a graduate of Swansea University, has just started as ARC’s Species Officer for Wales, based in Swansea. Funding was secured from the Vodafone World of Difference UK programme, which provides the opportunity for applicants to work for a UK charity of their choice for two months. Mark applied to work for ARC and out of the 11,000+ applications he was one of the lucky 500 to receive sponsorship. The position will involve promoting ARC and the conservation of reptiles and amphibians at shows and local events within Wales.

He’ll also be providing training in survey, identification techniques and habitat management for members of the public and wildlife conservation organisations. Furthermore the role will assess the status of the widespread species (including the protected great crested newt) using computer modelling. Survey work will then be undertaken with local volunteers to ground truth the models’ predictions.

Contact Mark for details if your company would like to sponsor Welsh species conservation work!

If you are interested in volunteering with Mark in South Wales, or would like training for your group, then please get in contact: mark.barber@arc-trust.org

You can also follow him on his blog: http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/blogs/mark-barber/

And twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ARCTrustWales

Great Easter Newt Hunt!

Do you have access to a garden pond? Can you spend 20 minutes looking for newts? Could you let us know what you find? Then take part in our Great Easter Newt Hunt! You can join in the hunt anytime between 22nd April and 2nd May to help provide data to be used for newt conservation. Find more details here or log on to www.newthunt.org from 1st April to identify newts, find out survey tips and download a newt hunt survey form!

Reptile Habitat Management Courses

ARC is running 3 training courses in conjunction with its Reptile Habitat Management Handbook for all landowners, land managers, local authorities and anyone interested in habitat management for reptiles. The first is at Callow Hill, Worcestershire on 14th April, the second is at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Hampshire on 3rd May and the third is at Avon Heath Country Park, Dorset on 6th May. Places are limited to 25 per course and at a cost of £10 per head these are real value for money. Don't delay, book you place now. Contact the Office on 01202 391319 for details or see the website www.arc-trust.org 'Spotlight on' for details and a booking form.

Project Officer vacancy at ARC

CLARE Project (Connecting London's Amphibian and Reptile environments)

ARC was recently successful in securing funding through Heritage Lottery Fund for a 1 year post based in London - looking at London's amphibian and reptile populations. This post is 3 days/22.5 hours a week and will be situated at the London Wildlife Trust Offices.

If you are interested in applying please either see 'Spotlight On' on our Home page or click here to download full details. You can get an application pack by emailing helen.wraight@arc-trust.org or contacting the office on 01202 391319 or download an application form here.

Closing date is 31st March 2011 - interviews will be held in London in April.

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation NARRS Report

ARC has just published a NARRS (National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme) research report covering its interim results of widespread species surveys 2007 - 2009. This report shows occupancy rates for both reptiles and amphibians across the UK. It shows the adder to be our rarest widespread reptile by far and may be the first real evidence for declines in adder populations that have long been suspected.

Unsurprisingly the south is the most species-rich of them all, with Wales and Central England having the lowest species richness for amphibians and Northern England having the lowest species richness for reptiles.

ARC plans to build on these results over the next years to create the first ever baseline dataset on Britain's widespread amphibians and reptiles!

A big thank you to all of our NARRS recorders and if you are interested in getting involved we would love to hear from you - please see our website - www.arc-trust.org

The NARRS report is available to download from the ARC website - see Resources.Latest Documents or click here to get your copy.

New Environmental Stewardship Leaflet for Reptiles

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation has just published an Environmental Stewardship leaflet for reptiles entitled Selecting Environmental Stewardship Options to Benefit Reptiles. This leaflet gives advice to landowners, and especially farmers and their advisors, on management objectives, reptile habitat requirements and key management options available under Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) and Entry Level Stewardship (ELS).

This leaflet is freely available from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation - both in paper copy (apply to the office on 01202 391319) and download. Click here for your copy or download from Resources.Latest Documents.