Farnham Herald

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This article was Front Page item in my local rag !
OK its not completely biased, but its a bit unbalanced. I'm considering writing them a follow-up article, any thoughts as to aspects I should mention ?
Shyness of the animals comes to mind, as does the legal protection.
Not a bad pic for an average dog-walker..........
 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/Ooh_Vicar/RAUK/d81619 bb.jpg

Edited by Vicar

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Vicar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1184	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vicar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Farnham Herald Posted: 12 May 2006 at 8:24pm
	This article was Front Page item in my local rag ! OK its not completely biased, but its a bit unbalanced. I'm considering writing them a follow-up article, any thoughts as to aspects I should mention ? Shyness of the animals comes to mind, as does the legal protection. Not a bad pic for an average dog-walker.......... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/Ooh_Vicar/RAUK/d81619 bb.jpg Edited by Vicar
	Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group

Wolfgang Wuster Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 374	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wolfgang Wuster Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2006 at 2:59am
	Susceptibility to disturbance would be another obvious thing to bring up. Linking this in with the same phenomenon in some more "popular" animals, like ground-nesting birds such as nightjars, could then logically lead to a polite request that dog-walkers should keep their %&#*@% mutts on a lead when in reptile areas ..... (Apologies to dog-owners - I am one myself, but when I go to a nature reserve or herping elsewhere, Dog stays at home, and I have absolutely no time for other people's dogs when I see them rampaging over acres of prime habitat!) Cheers, Wolfgang
	Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/

Suzi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1025	Post Options Post Reply Quote Suzi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2006 at 10:20am
	I would mention that the heaths and woods are THEIR home and they are unlikely to bother dogs if dogs are kept on leads and discouraged from roaming. Perhaps also that there is some indication of concern for adders' numbers due to loss of habitat and increased pressure due to human disturbance. It is difficult as really if people take dogs on their walks they are not very interested in nature, particularly at ground level.
	Suz

Vicar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1184	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vicar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2006 at 11:37am
	I suspect that realistically, people are always going to let dogs off leads on heathland, and a fair proportion of people who enjoy our heaths are dog-walkers. I'd like to offer some practical advice for dog walkers, & would have thought that such a leaflet was available, but I can't seem to find one. An obvious suggestion would be to stick to paths where possible, and not to encourage the dog to run across prime habitat by throwing its ball there ! (as you see so often). Most of the dog-walkers I speak to on heathland are only vaguely aware of adder, and most have never seen one. Many believe that adder are only active on the hottest of summer days.
	Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group

Vicar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1184	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vicar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 2006 at 1:43pm
	Erm...I sent them some advice and they published a follow-up piece. (I had NO input into their headline), and the RAUK plug was meant for their benefit, not intended for the article, so apologies if there's been any small bandwidth spike. Farnham Herald 18 May 06 Cheers for linking adder to other protected species idea Wolfgang ! Edited by Vicar
	Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group

administrator Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote administrator Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 2006 at 5:11pm
	Very positive Steve well done I'm sure RAUK won't collapse under the strain..

administrator Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote administrator Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 2006 at 5:13pm
	tell you what Steve, if they'll give you the article in word format and permission to re-publish (and they might if you let them know I'll put a plug in form them) we can stick the article up on the front page

John Newton Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 149	Post Options Post Reply Quote John Newton Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 May 2006 at 1:34am
	Nice one Steve - it both puts the case for the plight of reptiles, as well as giving sound advice on how to minimise any risk of injury to man and beast.
	John Newton South Yorkshire ARG

herpetologic2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Coordinator Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1511	Post Options Post Reply Quote herpetologic2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jun 2006 at 5:54am
	Well done steve jon

Michael Overton Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Michael Overton Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jun 2006 at 4:12am
	Down with dogs arggghhh and also if you happen to be in East Lincolnshire on a sunny day there is some wonderful herp spotting at the Kirkby Moor reserve near Woodhall Spa. Last spotting session in June produced one grass snake, one adder, one slow worm and one viviparous lizard. It's great!!!!!!!!!!!!!