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RAUK - Archived Forum - Calling all London Herpers!

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Calling all London Herpers!:

Author	Message
herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2	Posted: 01 Sep 2006 I would like to contact interested people who live within London to assess the interest in Herpetofauna and Herpetofauna Conservation - with a view to establishing a Amphibian & Reptile Group/network Please send a reply to this if you would like to be involved Regards Jon C on behalf of the ARG UK Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife

herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2	Posted: 01 Sep 2006 Sorry about the poor grammar - an Amphibian & Reptile Group/network Regards JC Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife

lalchitri Senior Member Joined: 06 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 132 View other posts by lalchitri	Posted: 01 Sep 2006 what would exactly be involved? i'm a bit of a novice and nowhere near as knowledgeable as the rest on this board, so not sure if i'd be of any use. as long as it wouldn't take up vast chunks of my time i could be interested in the amphibian side of things. i'm in middlesex btw. Reformed Teetotaller

herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2	Posted: 01 Sep 2006 Thats okay - it is bodies on the ground that we need in London - I am looking to get an idea of interest on this forum - the idea is that volunteering within the ARG or AR Network can be as little or as much as you want to be involved. There are many little things that help build a base for herp conservation on a local scale - so I hope you still would like to be involved Anymore people in London? Regards Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife

lalchitri Senior Member Joined: 06 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 132 View other posts by lalchitri	Posted: 02 Sep 2006 i suppose so. here's some info on a project taken out on a pond within walking distance of my house. its directly next to a major road, and has a parade of shops on the other side. i was quite surprised to learn that it was so full of life. http://www.ickenhamchurchnews.co.uk/0703/page%204.htm scroll down about 3/4 of the page. Reformed Teetotaller

Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar	Posted: 10 Sep 2006 Jon, I realise you're just polling opinion currently..... Have you considered the demarcation issue? (As you know) most biological observations are recorded within Watsonian vice county boundaries, and there's no London VC ! I guess a Middlesex group would make sense. (Crude diagram below illustrates the issue). Vicar38970.8758912037 Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG).

herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2	Posted: 11 Sep 2006 Hi Steve I am up for suggestions and I am considering the Middlesex ARG - with the London area covered by the combination of those ARG groups. It may eventually lead to the London ARG Network being formed from the various organisations covering Greater London...... Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife

Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar	Posted: 11 Sep 2006 Sounds like a cracking idea to me. It certainly looks like the Middlesex area is a gap in current ARG coverage, and a 'network' of those ARGs with areas of interest (AOI) within the Greater London Area should prevent toes being stepped upon. I'd guess that there are two clear options for the AOI for such a network: Greater London Inside the M25 The former offers tighter political cohesion (one-stop shop for planning advice etc), whilst the latter would include a greater number of species (and potential 'members') and (maybe?) attract people with an interest beyond the widespread species. Option 2 would include Berks and Bucks I guess, and could provide a useful forum for all these geographically close ARGs. It would certainally help minimise confusion caused by somebody sighting a herp in Putney/Battersea/Vauxhall finding out that their (VC) county recorder is Surrey! Maybe a virtual London ARG is an answer? If I can help...I'd be happy to assist. Vicar38971.3405324074 Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG).

GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF	Posted: 11 Sep 2006 I thought there was already a group covering the area Jon by the name of the LEHART? Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant

herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2	Posted: 11 Sep 2006 Hi Gemma LEHART are not part of the ARG UK and so as they do cover London, Herts and small parts of Essex they are a different type of herp conservation body - a charity which has the same aims as ARG groups but carry out this activity in a different way to ARG's There are a number of people who would like to form a group - funnily enough they are all in Middlesex - so it seems logical to form the Midx ARG so that a full compliment of ARGs can cover London - Essex, Kent, Herts, Surrey and Midx It looks like London ARG will not be emerging but there will be a London Area of Interest - as suggested by Steve Regards Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife

*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by SNAKE	Posted: 11 Sep 2006 hi Jon I'm in Middlesex i could help out if needed Paul PAUL SMITH

herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2	Posted: 12 Sep 2006 Hi Paul I had you on my list of people from that area. We are developing a nucleus for a new group - so if anyone would like to sign up to the group - Middlesex ARG then please let us know. As with other groups there will be a launch night or event once we have found people to fulfil the different 'committee' roles - Would it be sensible to launch the group next spring (possibly at the Herp Workers Meeting) or this Autumn? Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife

arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis	Posted: 12 Sep 2006 Jon, If you can't get any field days for the new group organised this year, perhaps you can arrange a meeting this autumn/winter. This would be so the new group could get to know other faces, discuss places for survey etc. Mark Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group.

*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by SNAKE	Posted: 13 Sep 2006 hi mark that sounds a good idear what do you think Jon PAUL SMITH

herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2	Posted: 15 Sep 2006 I have a place in mind where some excellent work has been done on restoring ponds and monitoring the common frog - I would like to arrange for people in Middlesex to have a meet up at this location to meet the countryside ranger and the local conservation group members etc for a joing work party (if meeting in late autumn) or for a common frog monitoring trip (if it is in the spring). I think we should have a get together soon to thrash out ideas and suggest what activities members would like to get involved in If anyone would like to be involved then please contact me and of course put the feelers out for more members Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife

*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by SNAKE	Posted: 17 Sep 2006 where is it Jon PAUL SMITH

Deano Senior Member Joined: 23 Aug 2005 No. of posts: 133 View other posts by Deano	Posted: 03 Sep 2007 Hi Jon Just found this thread... Did you manage to get a group together? Detail please. Deano Better to be lucky than good looking.

frogworlduk Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2003 No. of posts: 72 View other posts by frogworlduk	Posted: 20 Feb 2008 yeah i'm interested with whats going on here. been a while since anythings been said

- Calling all London Herpers!

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