The Gwent Amphibian & Reptile Group covers the Unitary Authorities of Cardiff, Newport, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouthshire; Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil have recently been included within the group's geographical coverage for 2010. GARG is affiliated to ARG-UK.
The group's objectives are:
If you are interested in joining, please complete & return the membership form to Mel Sutherland (GARG secretary). For insurance purposes, we also require volunteers to complete and return this Volunteer Working Agreement form.
Meetings are held quarterly, at various locations throughout the GARG region. Minutes are available to download:
GARG Minutes (DRAFT) - Thursday 29th October 2009
GARG Minutes - Thursday 26th February 2009
GARG Minutes - Tuesday 10th June 2008
GARG Minutes - Thursday 6th March 2008
GARG Minutes - Thursday 31st January 2008
Caerphilly Great Crested Newt Surveys
During 2008, GARG, in conjunction with Caerphilly CBC, carried out surveys for Great Crested Newts (and other amphibians) on about 16 dates in all, from April to early July 2008. This involved daytime visual searches for eggs and nightime torchlight surveys to look for the adults, and volunteers were encouraged to help out.
A similar program of surveys is planned for 2009. For further details or to register your interest in becoming a volunteer, please contact Maggie Iles (Caerphilly CBC).
Blaenau-Gwent Great Crested Newt Surveys
In 2009, GARG will be undertaking Great Crested Newt Surveys in conjunction with Blaenau-Gwent CBC. Assistance from volunteers is welcomed; to register your interest or to request further information, please contact Claire Pooley, Blaenau-Gwent CBC Ecologist (Tel: 01495 355779, Email: claire.pooley@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk)
Toad Patrol
There are organised toad patrols at a couple of road-crossing points in Newport. If you know of any additional sites which could benefit from a toad patrol during the spring, please let us know, or report it via the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC). This activity is weather dependent, as the toads will tend to migrate once the cold weather breaks in spring, and we have a mild, damp spell. Dates will be confirmed once the toads are on the move! Hi-vis jackets are provided, courtesy of Capita Symonds.
Trellech Reptile Monitoring Project
2010 will be the fifth year of the project to monitor reptiles on Forestry Commission land which has been clear-felled and is being restored to heathland. The site is generally surveyed twice a month in spring, decreasing to just once a month in the summer, but the frequency of visits can be increased to accommodate a greater number of volunteers. Volunteers are welcome to accompany Matt Harris (GARG chairman) or to undertake surveys by themselves once they have the reference maps and risk assessments, etc. Amphibian surveys in the ponds are also planned for this year.
If you have seen any reptiles or amphibians (native or not!) in South East Wales, please submit your records to us. You can do this using our on-line recording form. Remember, we are interested in all records, even frogspawn! The UK BAP Priority Species list now includes most of our native herptiles.
The herpetofauna website has some good identification information, as does the NARRS website in its downloadable survey packs.
GARG can coordinate training for volunteers as required; please speak to Matt Harris or Mel Sutherland if you are interested.
If you are interested in joining, please complete & return the membership form as above. For all other enquiries, please contact: