The Avon Reptile and Amphibian Group,


Frogs,toads,newts,slow worms,lizards and snakes, where are they and how many are there?

The Avon Reptile and Amphibian Group (ARAG)which are supported by the Bristol Region Environmental Recording Group (BRERC) has been re activated and has a programme of meetings and activities.
Recently the group has had training on taking part in the National Annual Reptile Recording Survey. One hectare squares are allocated to the group and volunteers check out a selected pond for amphibians and reptiles. The group has also been surveying for reptiles by placing one metre squares of black roofing felt in places where lizards and slow worms are likely to bask. The dark coloured roof tile absorbs warmth from the sun and attracts these cold blooded animals which need warmth before they can venture out to hunt.
Gardeners who are "wildlife friendly" and would like to attract slow worms to the garden to help eat snails and slugs can encourage them by providing refuges for them. Placing small sheets of corrugated iron or stone piles in sunny spots in the garden, which will absorb the sun's warmth,will attract them and be a shelter from cats and other predators.
Focus on ...

Gardens

Is your garden good for amphibians, snakes, and lizards.?
These groups of animals need all the friends that they can get if they are to survive the perils and challenges of modern life. Gardens can be safe refuges for these animals and can be made even better with a little fine tuning of your gardening practice.
Make room for a compost heap. This will allow you to turn garden waste into rich compost as well as providing warm breeding grounds for slow worms and grass snakes. These animals will help you control slugs and snails organically.

Piles of woody waste from shrub pruning in a quiet corner are excellent cover for newts, toads and lizards in the summer and will eventually rot down into manageable compost, which can be used for your roses.

Piles of stones and rocks and dry stone walls will encourage amphibians and reptiles such as toads, newts, slow worms and frogs to over winter and in the summer linger to eat garden pests which could attack seedlings and vegetables.

If you are lucky your pond could be visited by grass snakes, attractive brown snakes with a yellow collar. Grass snakes are harmless to pets and people but will hunt garden pests and small pond creatures. Toads, frogs and newts may well breed in a garden ponds provided they do not contain goldfish which will predate them.