Reptile Path

Pupils from six Poole schools paved the coastal cliff-top path in Pinecliff Gardens, Poole, with a donation of CEMEX Readypave block paving, making it accessible by wheelchair users.

Each school took a section of the 120m path and decorated with a design representing British reptiles.

The schools could select the colour of block paving they required to enhance their designs which were supplied through Keyline's Poole branch.

These included charcoal, red, wheatmeal, Autumn Hue and Burnt Ember to provide the backdrop to designs including 'snake amongst flowers' and 'lizards'.

 

 

Fred the tortoise was found in a landfill site 20-miles away from home after being

accidentally thrown out with the rubbish Photo: KENT NEWS & PICTURES

 

Fred, the 30-year-old family pet, was recovering after he sneaked into a bin liner looking for somewhere to hibernate.

His owner Jane Deslandes picked up the rubbish sack and left it out for binmen - sending Fred on a 20-mile journey in the back of a dust cart from the family home in Margate to the landfill site at Canterbury, Kent.

Mrs Deslandes, a mother-of-six, 55, said: "It was absolutely horrendous when we realised what had happened - I knew what had happened straight away because we put the bags out in the garden before collection day.

"And it's the time of year when he's looking for nice warm places to hibernate.

"But we panicked because we didn't know where the rubbish goes so we had to phone the council to find out."

Mrs Deslandes was then given special permission by her local council to trawl through waste at the landfill site - 20 miles away.

She was issued with a high-visibility jacket by workers and embarked on a painstaking three hour search - to no avail.

She said: "We were devastated - we tried for ages but just couldn't find him.

"Eventually we had to give up and go home - I cried all the way back."

But landfill site bosses, desperate to help Mrs Deslandes, who works as a carer, continued the hunt for the tiny creature.

Finally they found him underneath a stack of smelly household waste - just minutes before the day's rubbish was due to be BURIED.

Fred - who lives on a strict diet of lettuce leaves, tomatoes and vegetables - is now munching away on his favourite food in his back garden following his discovery on Wednesday last week.

Jane added: "We were overjoyed - words can't describe how happy we were.

"We arranged straight away to go and pick him up.

"He was a bit dishevelled looking and had a couple of chips on his shell.

"But otherwise he was okay.

"We took him to the vet and they gave him a vitamin injection - they said it was a miracle."

Tortoises traditionally begin hibernating in October but it is thought Fred sought shelter early because of this year's miserable English summer.

Sand lizard hatchlings are appearing

The Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is our rarest native lizard, and has disappeared from many of the Surrey heathlands due to unsuitable habitat management.

To help the species recover, the HCT co-ordinate a captive breeding programme, releasing hatchlings back into the wild at sites where habitat management has made the heath suitable, and will continue to be managed sympathetically.

These releases continue, annually, over a three year period. After this there should be sufficient mature animals to contine to breed naturally, with more maturing each year.

Last weekend, wild-born hatchlings were found at one of these release sites, confirming the success of this conservation approach. The hatchlings dig themselves out of sandy burrows at the end of August, after hatching from their leathery eggs. They are around two inches (2.5cm) from head to tail...and so cute!

World's Smallest Snake Discovered

The world's smallest species of snake, as thin as a spaghetti noodle and small enough to rest comfortably on a U.S. quarter, has been identified on the Caribbean island of Barbados.

The species, with adults averaging just under four inches in length, was discovered by Blair Hedges, an evolutionary biologist at Penn State. They list the discovery in the journal Zootaxa.

Hedges found the new snake -- a type of threadsnake -- in a tiny forest fragment on the eastern side of Barbados. He believes the species is rare because most of its potential habitat has been replaced by buildings and farms. "Habitat destruction is a major threat to biodiversity throughout the world," he said. "The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable because it contains an unusually high percentage of endangered species and, because these animals live on islands, they have nowhere to go when they lose their habitat."

More Predation

 Tuesday 13th May

Pond Predators and Prey

It is quite extraordinary to see events in a garden pond that illustrate so clearly the pressures on survival of the fittest! Last week I watched a Blackbird, taking a drink at the pond edge, disturb a common newt. It promptly caught it and then proceeded to treat it as if it were an earthworm by pecking along its length. A tasty meal ensued.

Today it was the newts turn to be the predator. On the first occasion the newt tackled a freshly split final instar of the Southern Hawker Dragonfly and rapidly ate the still soft body. On the second occasion a common newt tackled the soft body of a mollusc tearing at it using 'crocodile rolls'.

Julia

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SARG success story

Friday 11th April 2008

GCN breed in recently created pond

When the historic woodland pond dried out due to lowering of the water table SARG members undertook the creation of a new pond 100m from the original site. After an anxious wait to see if we were in time adult GCN were observed in Kiosk pond, Merstham late the following summer.

A quick visit this week to this woodland margin pond has confirmed the presence of eggs of both GCN and Common newt in the folded leaves of Water forget-me-not.

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Toad predation

Thursday, April 3rd 2008

Toad migration hazzards

Every year toads risk life and limb as they migrate to their breeding ponds. But it is not only the traffic they have to contend with as this remarkable picture from Derek Washington shows. This Crow was having a feast by Earlswood Lakes, Redhill last weekend.

Other toad predators include herons, mink, gulls and terns.

Julia

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A sign of approaching spring

The first European Water [green] frogs have emerged from hibernation today. Although not calling yet, they may be seen on south-facing banks of ponds and lakes as they begin the all-important task of absorbing the heat of the sun. These early frogs often appear quite dark and are well camouflaged but brighten and become greener as the season advances.

Julia
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Amphibians are spawning

Frogs and toads across Surrey are spawning in ponds and lakes. Frog spawn is found in clumps; and toad spawn is laid in strings, winding around vegetation.

Toads are on the move!

Amphibians across Surrey have started their spring migration from their terrestrial hibernation sites, back to their breeding ponds. The move was triggered by an increase in night-time temperatures, and a little rain.

SARG coordinates the thirty four registered toad-crossing sites within the county.

Find out more by clicking this link: Toads

Not all toads are content to walk their migration path...

Update from Ralph (26 Feb 2008):
I was out on Sunday evening at Speynes Mere. We collected 70+ toads, 22 frogs and 12 newts. More will follow at this very active crossing [last year 500+].

SARG Honour

Dr. Julia Trea Margaret Wycherley was invested as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 New Year's honours list, for services to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

Congratulations Julia !

Julia has now handed over the SARG chair to Gareth Matthes, and has accepted the SARG post of Honourary president.