Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Amphibian and Reptile Group
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                                                                Recent CPARG dates!

CPARG Launch night

Thursday 21^st April 2005

Well-attended evening talk at Hinchingbrooke Country Park visitors centre to kick off Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Amphibian and Reptile Group.

Peterborough Environment Festival

Saturday 11^th June 2005

The CPARG stand gave free advice and literature to those with an interest in local herps and their distribution. The stand also featured a pin-board to gather an idea of amphibian and reptile sightings for the Peterborough area – the result? 54 pins in the map… (interestingly toads fared worse, only two sightings reported…).

Reptile Survey Training

Saturday 17^th September 2005

Ten attendees turned up to learn more about native reptile identification and survey techniques, by undertaking a guided walk with local ecologist, Howard Hillier, at Hampton Nature Reserve, Peterborough.

'Challenges for reptile and amphibian conservation in the 21st century' talk

Tuesday 8th November 2005

A very well attended talk by English Nature ecologist, Jim Foster, covering such topics as legislation, disease, awareness and amphibian and reptile conservation techniques.

‘The grass snake: Understanding distributions and life-history’ talk

Tuesday 10th of  January 2006 at 7.30pm.

This talk by Dr Robert Stebbings of ‘The Robert Stebbing Consultancy Ltd’ focused on the grass snake, and reviewed current knowledge and thinking on aspects of grass snake ecology including life-history, diet and distribution.

‘The natterjack toad in Britain and Ireland ’ - CANCELLED

Wednesday 15th of March 2006 at 7.30pm.

This talk by Henry Arnold at Hinchingbrooke Country Park , was unfortunately cancelled. It is hoped this talk can be rescheduled to a date early in 2007.

‘Amphibian identification and survey for volunteers in Peterborough .’

Saturday 22nd April 2006

This training event talk took place in the Easter holidays and included a site visit to Hampton Nature Reserve, one of the most important sites in Europe for populations of great crested newts.

CPARG SURVEY NIGHT – Stanground Newt Ponds

Tuesday 9^th of May 2006

The ‘newt ponds’ of Stanground have been well-documented for their populations of great crested newts, a large number of which live and forage in the gardens of surrounding housing development. This CPARG survey aimed to determine presence/absence at Peterborough Rd Newt pond nearby in order to ascertain potential opportunities for habitat management by CPARG volunteers early in 2007. Overall, 52 great crested newts were recorded over three ponds.

CPARG SURVEY NIGHT – Stanground Newt Ponds

Tuesday 16^th of May 2006

The ‘newt ponds’ of Stanground have been well-documented  for their populations of great crested newts, a large number of which live and forage in the gardens of surrounding housing development. This CPARG survey aimed to determine presence/absence at Peterborough Rd Newt pond nearby in order to ascertain potential opportunities for habitat management by CPARG volunteers early in 2007. Overall 18 great crested newts were recorded over three ponds.

Reptile walk – Bedford Purlius & Kings Cliffe

Saturday 20^th May 2006

Led by local reptile expert Roy Bradley, this walk aimed to introduce volunteers to reptile sites in the region, specifically to determine presence/absence of adders. The reptile-unfriendly weather didn’t spoil the day, with grass snakes and slow-worms observed and handled by the 10 or so attendees that came along.

‘Froglife: Warts and all’ exhibition.

29^th of May to 2^nd June 2006

Just under 2000 people attended this event at Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery . The week long exhibition during half term, aimed to raise local interest and knowledge in amphibians and reptiles. As well as live ‘Pond dips’, and craft activities, the exhibition also promoted interest and involvement in amphibians and reptiles, and the work of CPARG, at four sites in Peterborough; Hampton Nature Reserve, Ferry Meadows Country Park, Swaddywell Pit NR, Kings Dyke NR.