Grass snake habitat destroyed....

Good to see you here Chaela. 

I for one am glad that you are a "council bod".  You are in a good position to spread the awareness that you speak of, which desperately needs doing.  The requirements of reptiles and amphibians are consistently overlooked as you now know.

It would be no small thing if we could lessen the amount of "clean ups" at sites by well intentioned volunteer groups wishing for things to do which can be so devastating for herps and other lesser known wildlife.  Such acts that are done in the name of "conservation" that tidy up these nasty piles of habitat to "improve" things for wildlife!

Hi Peter & Chaela

I am looking forward to the mini conference which is being organised - I think this would be through John Baker the Widespread species officer which was initited by our little chat/emails recently.

I think that I am planning on taking a workshop for this conference and we all hope that it will be great success.

Another area I would like to plan further events and activties is the South West - would you like to be involved Suzi?

 

regards

 

Jon

 

David,

I was told there was nothing doing in Devon apart from a bit of surveying for GCNs. I was invited to start a group! This was probably 2 years or so ago but I don't think things have changed.

Just shows how a bit of publicity helps. I never heard about Jim Foster's adder lectures.  I'm sure there is the interest in the county but probably no one wants to take on the task of organising a group! I am fairly involved in archaeology/local history as well as working so I just couldn't do it.

I am only looking at Devon, East Devon in particular, and so don't know much about the rest of the south-west.

What interests me greatly is the adders on the coastal area east of Sidmouth through to just east of Branscombe Mouth. This is a wonderful habitat of undercliff historically well-addered and still so. Plenty of attention is given to heathland for adders but this is an unmanaged area now National Trust. The supposed last smooth snake in Devon was killed here, as you know David as you helped me with the reference. Could they still hold out here? How lovely to have the clout to do proper surveying here. Most of the area is inaccessible to humans away from the tracks so what might be there?

hi peter sad pics the usual tidy up scanario but it will be good for the dog walkers keith

Hi Jon

So far we have had a really good response from surrounding authorities to attend the mini conference, so hopefully it will be a success.

I look forward to speaking to you again soon

Many thanks

Chaela