Learn about Amphibians and Reptiles

Help to conserve them and their habitats.

Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Team (HART) is dedicated to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Herefordshire. We aim to encourage people to learn about, protect and conserve these animals and their habitats. Our activities include recording the distribution and population size of amphibians and reptiles throughout Herefordshire, conservation work such as pond restoration, workshops and training days, talks and visits, providing advice on pond and habitat conservation and identifying threats to local habitats.

Send us your records

Please send us records of sightings of amphibians and reptiles in the county. Download a form which can be posted or emailed. Alternatively use one of the on-line recording forms on the Records page.

See our Programme for 2010 and photos of events.

What's that snake?

 

A HART and Herefordshire Nature Trust Project

HART, in partnership with the Herefordshire Nature Trust, has been awarded around £57,000 for an exciting 2 year project to involve communities and schools in developing greater awareness of Herefordshire's reptiles, especially the Adder which is very uncommon in our county. We are organising community events, training, school visits, site surveys, and are engaging with the general public to encourage people to record their reptile sightings.

Nigel Hand, Reptile Recorder for Herefordshire for many years, is the Project Officer.

Anyone interested in helping in the Project, or wishing to know more about it, can contact Nigel at Herefordshire Nature Trust 01432 356872.

The grants have been received from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Wye Valley AONB and the Malvern Hills AONB.

Click here for more information about the 'What's That Snake?' project and for downloads of our Reptile leaflets.

We have already successfully completed two major projects in the last five years:
the Herefordshire Ponds and Newts Project and the Pond Celebration and Restoration Project.

Leaflets for each of the ponds restored in the Pond Restoration Project can be downloaded from the Project page.

Amphibians and Reptiles of Herefordshire

In 2006 HART produced a full colour guide to the amphibians and reptiles of the county and their status, based on the results of the three year Ponds and Newts Project and other surveys for reptiles and amphibians.

As well as the species accounts and distribution maps it includes background to the geology of the county, history of ponds and recording in the county, and conservation tips.

 

See details of the book and some reviews.

We work closely with Herefordshire Nature Trust, Herefordshire Biodiversity Partnership (set up by English Nature, now Natural England, Herefordshire Nature Trust and Herefordshire Council), Froglife, The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, and other wildlife societies and groups, such as Herefordshire Action for Mammals, and the Herefordshire Bat Group.