A request for records of amphibians and reptiles
Jon Cranfield 14 Wiltshire Road, Eastleigh S053 3EZ
I am currently collating all the available herpetofauna records for Essex onto a biological
database. I have been putting David Scott's records onto computer to be used in an
updated atlas 2003 and a new book for Essex 2004. We need records of all species of
herps from 1983 to 2002, providing location name, date, grid reference (6 figure if
possible) what species and what type of habitat. We are very interested in any new
records that have been collected over the last survey season -records can be sent to the
County Recorder David Scott at Court Hill, Church Lane, Little Leighs, Chelmsford
CM3 1PG (email David.Scott76@btopenworld.com) or alternatively email
essex_arg@hotmail.com
All contributors will be acknowledged in the new atlas and will each receive a copy.
Amphibians of Essex (excluding exotics) Reptiles of Essex (excluding exotics)
354 records so far 216 records so far
Adder Vipera berus observations at Hadleigh Castle Country Park 2002
Jon Cranfield 14 Wiltshire Road, Chandlers ford Eastleigh, Hampshire S053 3EZ
02380 276317 or 07769 644354 jonathan.cranfield@btopenworld.com
In recent years I have become interested in the Adder population within Hadleigh Castle
Country Park. Over the spring and summer months Andrew Woodhouse and myself have
been surveying for adders within a warm sunny bank area. The area is just a little way from
a well-used path. The situation shows how little of a threat these snakes are to people.
While searching for snakes, people often enquire what you are doing? When the people
are told that adders are being looked for they are either 'amazed' or 'frightened'. One
couple had walked their dog along the paths we were on, for 15 years, had not seen a
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Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 40, January 2003