**Please note, this is a hosted webpage. Please use contact details given below for enquiries regarding amphibians and reptiles.**
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:
If you are interested in joining, please complete & return the membership form to Claire Pooley (GARG secretary). For insurance purposes, we also require volunteers to complete and return this Volunteer Working Agreement form.
If you are interested in joining, please complete & return the membership form as above. For all other enquiries, please contact:
Chair: Matthew Harris
Secretary: Claire Pooley
Treasurer: Sinead Lynch
Education Officer: Stephanie Griggs-Trevarthen
Records & Website Coordinator: Rebecca Davies
Area Representatives:
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
Venue: Sir Harold Finch Memorial Park, Pontllanfraith
Time: 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)
Caerphilly Great Crested Newt Surveys
During 2010, GARG, in conjunction with Caerphilly CBC, carried out surveys for Great Crested Newts (and other amphibians). 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 2011. 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 2011, GARG will once again be undertaking Great Crested Newt Surveys in conjunction with Blaenau-Gwent CBC. Surveys took place during April in Ebbw Vale and at a site near Brynmawr. Assistance from volunteers is welcomed – to join GARG, please complete and return the membership form. For insurance purposes, volunteers are also required to complete a Volunteer Working Agreement form. To register your interest in assisting with surveys in Blaenau Gwent, 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 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 Project
2011 will be 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. 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 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.
GARG can coordinate training for volunteers as required; please speak to Matt Harris or Claire Pooley if you are interested.