NORTH East Wales Wildlife is calling on reptile enthusiasts to take part in a new project to raise awareness of the species.
The initiative will encourage people in North Wales to learn about their native reptiles and help with surveys and collecting records to determine the distribution of the animals in the area.
There are five species of reptiles living in North Wales. Of these, adders, grass snakes, common lizards and slow worms used to be widely distributed in the area but numbers have declined in the last 50 years. The fifth species, the sand lizard, actually became extinct in this area during that period but has recently been re-introduced to a few coastal sites.
NEWW will teach people more about these reptiles and their identification and offer activities to enable people to see these elusive animals.
The organisation is inviting people of all ages to join their Reptile Rambles guided walks led by local experts.
NEWW is also offering a free training morning to learn more about these reptiles and how to survey for them. The training courses and surveys are open to anyone. Courses are free, but booking is essential. To book, or for further information, call the community wildlife education officer on 01352 742 115 or e-mail asstweo@newwildlife.org.uk.
Reptile Rambles take place on:
Sunday, September 7, 9am-11.30am: Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve. Meet at Manor House NNR base, Whixall, Shropshire.
Sunday, September 14, 9am-11.30am: Llandegla Forest, Meet at Llandegla Forest Visitor Centre.
Training mornings are on :
Sunday, August 31, 9am: Rhydymwyn Valley Nature Reserve with a survey at Maes y Grug, Flintshire.
Saturday, September 6, 9am: Ty Mawr Country Park with a survey at Hafod, Wrexham.
