Herpetologic Ltd

13/09/2026

The proposed dates for the first batch of in the field survey training for ecologists wanting to obtain their 2nd reference for applying to Natural England to become registered under the Class Licence scheme.

Dates 2027 - Location Wickford Essex
17th/18th February
24th/25th February
10th/11th March
24th/25th March
7th/8th April
21st/22nd April

This batch is located at Nevendon Washland Nature Reserve nr Wickford, Essex - more locations to be released soon

A minimum of 4 sessions (2 surveys) are required for providing a reference - this course is purely in the field training

Early bird pricing £175.00 (ex VAT) per session
Per person.

Discounts available for self employed sole traders. Apply for a place on sessions above.

There are 5 free places for students and volunteers - please send an email to [email protected] to find out more.

11/04/2026

A wonderful first survey for a monitoring project 10years post mitigation I believe.

Great crested newts were of course the target species and we was joined by ecologist Laura Barry who is working towards her Class 1 GCN survey licence CL08

Herpetologic Ltd are trialing in the field practical training for ecologists who have attended courses this year which provide the 1st reference in the form of a course certificate - We are pleased to be offering experience and field training to help keep the field craft of newt field survey skills alive

Supporting freelance and independent ecologists get the necessary skills in all survey methods.

The result of the survey this last week - 105 adult newts in torch surveys, visual surveys, egg searches, and aquatic funnel trapping. Netting techniques will be demonstrated on the next survey in Late April/Early May.

We have space for ecologists over May to June in 2026 - please do pm or email [email protected] for more details.

02/02/2026

The end of the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting 2026 signals the start of the herpetofauna workers's year. This year's meeting had some very intriguing and worthwhile presentations and workshops.

For the rest of February we will be going through the presentations and workshops that stood out over the weekend. Have I got Newts for You (HIGNFY) was over too quickly it was felt so perhaps the presentations and workshops would be suitable topics to highlight here for followers to learn more about the latest on all things herpetofauna.

People who like, share and comment on these posts will be entered into a prize draw for a free place on our up and coming survey training courses for adders this spring. Look out for more details on that over at our website www.herpetologic.co.uk

31/01/2026

Look out for Jonathan Cranfield at the Herpetofauna Workers' Meeting - grab a selfie and post on here if you are at the meeting -

All selfie takers will be entered into a draw for a free place on our up and coming adder survey, ecology and mitigation training this spring.

06/01/2026

The Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK - ARG UK have their AGM tomorrow.

Sign up for free at this link

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25/07/2025

Gold sponsor of the Vanishing Viper Conference 6th and 7th September at the University of Chester

The two-day event seeks to unlock the drivers behind adder declines, and how research and landscape-level projects can meet the challenges.

08/05/2025

Landscape scale conservation of adders.... Sponsoring the Vanishing Viper Conference - calling all ecological consultants who work with reptiles - particularly the consultants who despite the narrative around our industry have achieved wonderful success in conserving adders through translocations, habitat management, creation and enhancements over the last 25years!!!

It is hard as widespread reptiles are normally an afterthought or not really considered important. Even in the planning reforms colleagues are throwing our native reptiles under the bus to make political points about the government.

It is time to be inspired by the vast amount of work being undertaken across the UK and Europe for our vipers.

Lets raise the profile of keystone species such as the adder which need our help - learning from successes and failures to help ensure the future of our only venomous snake species...

The two-day event seeks to unlock the drivers behind adder declines, and how research and landscape-level projects can meet the challenges.

06/04/2025

An early morning walk around the reserve last Friday 4th April 2025.

The adders are dispersed around the site at the moment which is actually good because there have been adder killings in previous years - we have also removed ACOs from plain view to help stop persecution of the adult adders.

There are plans for winter management at the end of the year to provide scalloped edges to bramble patches, dead hedges, and hopefully some small log piles in sunny locations.

Find out more about Make the Adder Count 2025
www.maketheaddercount.org

06/04/2025

One of our oldest ponds at Nevendon Washland Nature Reserve - LoWS Ba55 - the biodiversity gains here have been amazing over the last 15years or so.