Amphibians and Reptiles
Recorders: M.W.Hanson, Pam Wilson, Peter Wilson
Records: 2000 - 2003
The commonest member of tins group at Hylands would seem to be the Great Crested Newt. I have
records from Home Farm, lce-House, Pigeon. Lake Field, Ephemeral. Spring and Swan Ponds. At
the latter three ponds, young have been recorded. In all probability it is even more widespread titan
this and would occur in many of the other ponds. I have only ever seen three Frogs in the park - one
at the Writtle End and a mating pair in the small pond in the formal gardens. This pond has
occasionally had spawn from garden ponds added to it. I also have only one record of the Common
Toad - a single large individual found under decaying vegetable matter under the Smoke Bush in
the formal gardens. The Smooth Newt has been recorded little more frequently, including in the
formal gardens area.
The Common Lizard has been noted from the kitchen garden (four in number) and from the southern
part of the park, five (including juveniles) were seen basking on a dead oak stump. Adders have
been reported from the southern part of the park and the kitchen garden (but not as far as I am
aware 2000 - 2003). Grass snakes are regularly reported, particularly and appropriately from the
vicinity of the Serpentine Lake. I have also disturbed an individual basking on a fallen tree trunk in
the formal gardens area.
Species Recorded
Common Frog - Rana temporaria
Common Toad - Bufo bufo
Smooth Newt - Triturus vulgaris
Great Crested Newt - Triturus cristatus
Common Lizard - Lacerta vivipara
Grass Snake - Natrix natrix
Common Lizard
Adder - Vipera berus
Essex Parks: Section 2 - Hylands Park
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