Glacial Ridge. The Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus), however, prefers the lower-lying ponds
on London Clay and the Fairmead Pond and surrounding craters are a typical habitat. Pond cleaning
and conservation in this area in recent years have improved conditions for this species. Records have
also come from the ponds in Lord's Bushes, but these are now badly sedimented and are due for
cleaning. The Common Newt (Triturus vulgaris) is very widespread throughout the Forest area, but
numbers recorded are less than those of the Palmate. One of the problems in recording is identification
because of the similar appearance to the Palmate Newt. The males are more straightforward as the
Palmate is smaller than the common, less crested and has the familiar tail filament and palmated, or
webbed, hind feet. The female is more difficult, the main difference being the throat, spotted in the
Common, but plain white in the Palmate.
Reptiles are found in the more open sunny parts of the Forest, especially Adder, Grass Snake and
Common Lizard. The Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis), a legless lizard, although sometimes seen basking
in the sun, inhabits shadier places. Malenoir (1963) described it as quite common, especially at
Baldwins Hill and Broadstrood. There appear to have been few recent records from the Forest. The
Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) was adversely affected by the overgrowing of the Forest Plains.
Happily the recent clearing operations in these areas is reversing this downward trend. Long Running
is a favourite spot to see Common Lizards and I have recently seen young ones in the boundary hedge
at the Conservation Centre. The Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) is less common than fifty years ago,
human pressure on the Forest being one reason and another the silting up of some valuable feeding
ponds. Malenoir, in his reports, indicates a seasonal migration, to the ponds in spring and summer to
feed on amphibian life, and to the drier plains in autumn where small mammals and some toads are
eaten. The ponds on Bell Common, Goldings, Wake Valley and Fairmead Ponds and the Cuckoo Pits
are places where this species has been seen in recent years. The Adder (Vipera berus) is very shy and
so well camouflaged that it often goes unnoticed. The reptile prefers the more remote parts of the
Forest and today is found on Long Running. Sunshine and Deer Shelter Plains.
The non-indigenous species present an interesting story. One of the earliest of these introductions
was the Edible Frog (Rana esculenta) by Henry Doubleday in about 1848 (Laver, 1898). It was
recorded at Whipps Cross Ponds from 1948 to 1959.1 recorded them in Manor and Round Pond near
Forest School during the period 1950 to 1954. More recently, in 1988 this frog was recorded by J. Dobson
in Fairmead Pond. The small colonies of Edible Frogs never seems to breed successfully and die out in
the course of time. The males of this species have external vocal sacs and are extremely vociferous during
the spring breeding period; hence the local name "Cambridgeshire Nightingale" given to those introduced
to that locality in 1837. Green Tree Frogs (Hyla arborea) were recorded on Leyton Flats (EN 1 p. 159),
probably as a result of an escape from captivity. This small frog is very agile and can squeeze through the
smallest hole. Numerous turtles have been reported at various Forest ponds. These are mostly unidentified
but are probably the Red-eared Terrapin, although another species is also thought to occur in the Forest
Ponds. Records have come from several ponds, among them Long Running, Connaught Water, the
Alexandra Pond and the Eagle Pond. In 1991 a large individual, perhaps 9 or 10 inches long, was seen
basking on prostrate trunks of Crack Willow on Connaught Water. At the Eagle Pond another was seen
swimming under ice. Terrapins grow rapidly in captivity, soon outgrowing their accommodation and are
often released in desperation. It remains to be seen if they establish viable populations in Forest ponds
and what effect they have on the ecology of these ponds.
Hopefully the current programme of pond clearing and reopening of Forest plains will help preserve
the reptiles and amphibians in which Epping Forest is so rich.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following for records contained in this report: Mr. J. Dobson, Dr. D. Corke,
Mr. K. Hoy and Mr. P. Moxey and his staff at the Epping Forest Conservation Centre.
References
Boulenger. G. A. (1887) Palmated Newt in Epping Forest EN I 8.
Buxton, E. N. (1923) Epping Forest (9th edition). London.
Cole, W. (1900) Palmated Newt at Buckhurst Hill. EN XI, 142-3.
Fitter, R S. R. 91949) A Check-List of the Mammals. Reptiles and Amphibia of the London Area, 1900-1949. LN 28, 98-115.
Laver, H. (1898) The Mammals, Reptiles and Fishes of Essex. Essex Field Club Memoirs. 3.
Malenoir, G. (1963) Further Notes on the Reptile and Amphibian Survey of Epping Forest 1959-1961. EN XXXI. 141-47
Malenoir, G. and Pickett, C. (1968) A Survey of Adders in an Area of Epping Forest, EN XXXII, 179-186.
Scott, D. (1979) The Amphibians and Reptiles in Corke, D. (ed.) The Wildlife of Epping Forest EN 4 (NS) p. 25-30.
Smith. M. (1951) The British Amphibians and Reptiles. London.
Stubbs, F, J. (1920) Some Field Observations on Essex Reptiles and Amphibians. EN XIX, 1945-152.
Wheeler, A.G, Malenoir, G. and Davidson, J. (1959) A First Report on the Reptiles and Amphibians in Epping Forest. EN XXX, 179-188.
156