Our reptile transect locations are sited across the Forest of Dean. Maybe there’s one near you?
The Reptile survey
period runs from April through until early October and we are always on the
lookout for volunteers who can help check a transect approximately every 2
weeks (or at least once per month).
The volunteering
is very flexible. Timings are not critical although surveys may be more
rewarding on sunny days. People are
welcome to take on one transect, more than one transect, or even to share with
another person.
It is an adventure
of discovery! Some transect sites are speculative and may not have many
reptiles or they may be a hidden goldmine! But with all this monitoring we are
hoping to find some new reptile records in places where they are not known
about. You may have seen the Reptile
Survey on BBC Countryfile which showed viewers what is involved. If you are a bit apprehensive about looking
for reptiles, we urge you to give it a go! Project leader David Dewsbury can show you how
it can be done safely, even with children.
Also, If you
would like to enter your records on-line, you can join the ‘Dean Reptile’
project on Living Record, where you will be able to find all the transects on a
map and very easily enter the details of your visit. You can also look at the
other sites and see who has been there and what they have found.
Sessions will be
arranged to take people through the survey method and data input as required. So,
if you would like to do some reptile surveying for summer of 2020, please get
in touch with Deb Cook forestersforest@fvaf.org.uk