• Some fundamentals of planning and biodiversity
• How can your ARG get involved?
• Planning policy and guidance
• Species and general planning advice
• Local guidance and research on species and planning
• Biodiversity action planning

The guidance in this document is intended to assist in designing mitigation for impacts on reptiles during peatland restoration works. The mitigation approaches may also be suitable for the construction phase of some developments on peatland habitats. This guidance focuses on Scotland where peatland habitats are extensive, but could be applied elsewhere in the UK or Ireland where this habitat also occurs. While it deals explicitly with peatlands, many of the recommendations could be followed or adapted for other habitats which may be occupied by reptiles.

Three reptile species (adder, common lizard, and slow-worm) are known to occur in Scottish peatlands, while the grass snake is also present in England. Only common lizards occur in Northern Ireland and Ireland. All native reptile species are protected under relevant national legislation, and are also included on the national lists used to define the Biodiversity Duty of public bodies in the UK.

Built developments may be sited on peatland habitats, while restoration is often the subject of site management for nature reserves and habitat management plans associated with developments such as onshore wind farms. While restoration of peatlands will ultimately benefit biodiversity, the methods used can conflict with reptiles.

This document provides guidance to help plan peatland restoration so as to avoid negative impacts on reptiles so far as is practical.

A flow chart and summary table are provided to assist project planning.

It is essential that reptile mitigation is designed based on the best possible baseline dataset, collected through use of historic data, habitat mapping and presence surveys.

One of the greatest risks to reptiles on peatland sites is the loss of hibernaculum features, either directly or through raising the water table. Hibernacula should be mapped and it is essential to time work so as to avoid these features during the hibernation period. Recommendations are given for construction of artificial hibernacula.

This note provides advice for land owners and managers, by highlighting sympathetic management practices for adders, and identifying ways in which conflict with other land uses can be minimised.  Although written primarily for land managers, it may also be of use to other stakeholders including: conservation and statutory bodies, local authority planners and local volunteer groups

• Background
• Getting started
• The inaugural meeting and first steps
• Tips for running a local group
• Maintaining an ARG
• Special projects
• Generic Amphibian and Reptile Group constitution

• Review of amphibian disease threats
• General guidance on best practice when working with amphibians and their habitats
• Guidance on specific activities - including fieldwork at sites known to be infected
• Recommendations for training and other educational activities
• Disinfection procedures
• Investigating dead amphibians - working with the Garden Wildlife Health Project

 

• Use and limitations of the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) scoring method for determining pond suitability for great crested newts
• How to collect data and calculate the HSI
• Categorisation of HSI scores

• Choosing what to publicise
• Writing your press release
• Getting your release out
• Putting together a press release for your ARG
• Example of a simple ARG press release
• Dealing with negative publicity
• Writing letters to newspapers and magazines

• Insurance and risk assessments
• Location of your stand
• Resources for your stand
• Running the stand on the day
• Fundraising, and collecting records and other information
• Live Animal Exhibits and animal welfare considerations
• Public health and biosecurity

 

Many Amphibian and Reptile Groups (ARGs) attend, or run educational and training sessions for ARG volunteers and the wider public. This advice note provides some suggestions for organizing such public facing events, based on the experiences of the groups.

Concerns have been expressed about animal welfare issues, where animals may be disturbed by guided walks and training sessions, and handling. In order to minimize the impact to the animals, whilst still allowing volunteers and the wider public to engage and interact with them for educational purposes, we have also included some general guidelines about this aspect.

On 25th May 2018 the new General Data Protection Regulation comes into force. This is not a new legislation, as it builds on the Data Protection Act 1998. Nevertheless, it represents an important challenge for volunteer groups, since there will be greater scrutiny of the way in which we manage personal information after this date. This means that volunteer groups like the ARGs have to take responsibility for the personal data we hold. 

The advice note sets out:

• The definition of personal data
• The implications for small voluntary groups like the ARGS
• A process for complying with the new GDPR
• Information on what constitutes a data breach

 

In the face of ongoing wildlife declines, releasing animals back into the wild has become an increasingly popular proposition. For species with limited dispersal abilities, such as amphibians and reptiles, actively moving animals may be the only way of restoring them to some sites. Nevertheless, reintroductions are not without risk. They require careful assessment, planning and delivery – all of which can be costly. The risks and costs mean that in practice reintroduction is often not the best conservation intervention. A related issue of ‘genetic rescue’ of declining populations has also attracted interest recently. Similarly to reintroduction, such action can be very appealing but requires careful consideration. This advice note was developed to support volunteer Amphibian and Reptile Groups to evaluate re-intrduction proposals, and determine whether the actions suggested are appropriate for their location. We also recommend consultation with other national NGOs and statutory agencies.