**Please note, this is a hosted webpage. Please use contact details given below for enquiries regarding amphibians and reptiles.**

Gwent Amphibian & Reptile Group (GARG)

 

GARG logo

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. GARG is affiliated to ARG-UK.

The group's objectives are:

  • To promote the conservation of all native species of amphibian and reptiles and their habitats.
  • To establish and monitor the distribution and status of amphibians and reptiles in the GARG area, including colonies of introduced species.
  • To liaise with and provide advice on amphibians and reptiles and the management of their habitats to all relevant statutory and non statutory organisations and agencies and the general public.
  • To foster an interest in amphibians and reptiles and their conservation and to develop the skills of those interested in these species.

 

If you are interested in joining, please complete & return the membership form to Melanie Dodd (GARG secretary). For insurance purposes, we also require volunteers to complete and return this Volunteer Working Agreement form.

 

Contact us

If you are interested in joining, please complete & return the membership form as above. For all gwentarg at hotmail.co.ukother enquiries, please contact:

 

GARG Committee

Chair: Colin Williams

Vice Chair & Treasurer: Sarah Simons

Secretaries: Melanie Dodd (general enquires, membership & minute taking), Claire Pooley (events), Holly Lewis (education)

Records & Website Coordinator: Rebecca Davies

Area Representatives:

  • Blaenau Gwent: Katie Partington
  • Caerphilly: Melanie Dodd
  • Cardiff: Holly Lewis
  • Merthyr Tydfil: tbc
  • Monmouthshire: Abbey Sanders
  • Newport: David Price
  • Rhondda Cynon Taff: Rebecca East
  • Torfaen: Sarah Simons

 

GARG Meetings

Meetings are held regularly, at various locations throughout the GARG region. Minutes are available to download:

GARG Minutes - Tuesday 24th August 2010

GARG Minutes - Thursday 6th May 2010

GARG Minutes - Monday 8th February 2010

GARG Minutes - 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

 

Public Events

Listed in the table below are all the planned surveys, field visits and events for GARG in the year from April 2012 to March 2013. If you are interested in attending any of the dates, please contact the relevant leader to book a place (restrictions to number may apply in some cases).

 

Date & Time Event Contact
24th April Caerphilly Great Crested Newt surveys. Rudry Maggie Iles 01495 235450 ilesm@caerphilly.gov.uk
3rd May Caerphilly Great Crested Newt surveys. Wern ddu, Caerphilly Maggie Iles 01495 235450 ilesm@caerphilly.gov.uk
3rd May Blaenau Gwent pond survey. Garden city, Blaenau Gwent Claire Pooley 7730510131 claire_pooley@hotmail.com
8th May Caerphilly Great Crested Newt survey. Maesycwmmer, Caerphilly Maggie Iles 01495 235450 ilesm@caerphilly.gov.uk
10th May Caerphilly Great Crested Newt survey. TBC Maggie Iles 01495 235450 ilesm@caerphilly.gov.uk
10th May Blaenau Gwent pond survey. Roseheyworth, Caerphilly Claire Pooley 7730510131 claire_pooley@hotmail.com
15th May Caerphilly Great Crested Newt survey. Rudry, Caerphilly Maggie Iles 01495 235450 ilesm@caerphilly.gov.uk
22nd May Next GARG Meeting. Penallta, Caerphilly Claire Pooley 7730510131 claire_pooley@hotmail.com
29th May Caerphilly Great Crested Newt survey. Wern ddu, Caerphilly Maggie Iles 01495 235450 ilesm@caerphilly.gov.uk
31st May Caerphilly Great Crested Newt survey. Maesycwmmer, Caerphilly Maggie Iles 01495 235450 ilesm@caerphilly.gov.uk

 

Previous public events

Go Wild: Saturday 11th June 2011, Sir Harold Finch Memorial Park, Pontllanfraith, 11am - 4pm

Dragons on Your Doorstep: Sunday 17th April 2011. An introduction to reptiles and amphibians by GARG, followed by a visit to Llantrisant Common. Free event suitable for both adults and children. For further information, please download the flier (pdf, 259KB)

 

GARG Field Events

Unless specified otherwise, please contact the named individuals below via email:gwentarg at hotmail.co.ukGARG volunteers

 

Toad Patrol

Bufo bufoThere are organised toad patrols at several road-crossing points in Newport, Caerphilly and Monmouthshire. 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 Froglife. 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 ProjectAdders at Trellech

2011 was the sixth 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.

 

Biological Recording

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 the SEWBReC 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.

 

Training

GARG can coordinate training for volunteers as required; please speak to Colin Williams or Melanie Dodd if you are interested.