First guide on county's amphibians & reptiles published in over 100 y

The first guide for more than a century which lists the amphibians and reptiles in Herefordshire is set to be launched later this month.

“Amphibians and Reptiles of Herefordshire” has been published by the Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Team (HART) and the Herefordshire Biological Records Centre. It is due to be launched on Monday, 11th December,  in Hereford’s Town Hall.

The booklet is the result of more than six years recording and surveying by the county’s specialists and experts culminating with the Herefordshire Ponds and Newts Project which trained 126 people over its three year duration.

The book is to be presented by the authors to Councillor Phil Edwards,  Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for Environment and to Glenys Tucker,  Natural England’s Herefordshire team leader at the launch event which takes place from 11am to 12.30pm.

 Herefordshire Council and Natural England (through their support for the Herefordshire Biological Records Centre) have funded this book,  plus project funding from the European Union and Defra through the Herefordshire Rivers Leader + programme.

Councillor Edwards,  Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “The Council is delighted to have been able to support this work.  The collection of so much information and records allows a more comprehensive understanding of nature in our county and helps the Council to take make better decisions for wildlife.”

Glenys Tucker,  Team Leader for Natural England’s Herefordshire team, said: “Natural England welcomes the opportunity to work with HART, Herefordshire Council and the Biological Records Centre to provide sound evidence of the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the County.  The information will help everyone to make informed management decisions to conserve and enhance these important species.”

Nigel Hand,  one of the authors and Herefordshire’s County Reptile Recorder, said: “This atlas comes 100 years after the Herefordshire naturalist, Gerald Leighton, published his  ‘Serpents & Lizards of the British Isles’ which detailed observations in the county at that time.  The contrasts in populations, distribution and methodology between the two books is immense and illustrates the vital importance of this atlas to safeguard the future of Herefordshire's reptiles and amphibians.”

Will Watson, one of the authors and Herefordshire’s County Amphibian Recorder and Herefordshire Ponds and Newts Project Consultant said: "The Project has been allowed HART to discover some outstanding sites and we are extremely grateful to all those who took part in the surveys and for landowners allowing us access to their ponds. As a consequence of we have been able to produce a high standard atlas which we hope you will enjoy reading".

Amphibians and Reptiles of Herefordshire will be distributed freely to schools involved in the Leader + project area,  plus will be available for sale to the public.