Amphibian and Reptile
Groups of the UK
Photo © Angela Julian
ARG UK promotes the conservation of our native amphibians and reptiles and their environment by promoting and supporting the development of a network of independent Amphibian and Reptile Groups (ARGs).
You can help our native amphibians and reptiles by getting involved with one of the 60+ independent volunteer ARGs in the UK.
Affiliated groups benefit from our insurance scheme, local groups websites, advice notes and fundraising support.
We provide online recording through the Record Pool to help capture herpetofauna data from across the UK.
We produce fun downloads for kids and their parents and teachers, and other useful resources.
Basking spots
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Bsal - a deadly new newt disease on our doorstep!
Chytridiomycosis (Chytrid) has been responsible for mass mortalities of amphibians with declines and extinctions on six continents, including Europe. Until recently, most pathogenic outbreaks of Chytrid were associated with the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). However, since 2013 a newly described species B. salamandrivorans ( =…Read more: Bsal - a deadly new newt disease on our doorstep!
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Two herp conferences in 10 days - Christmas has come early!
by Steve Allain, Cambridge & Peterborough ARG (CPARG) On Saturday 9thJune, herpetologists from all over the UK gathered in Glasgow for a very special occasion. The Glasgow Natural History Society, in conjunction with Clyde ARG, had organised a fantastic line-up of herpetologically themed talks for…Read more: Two herp conferences in 10 days - Christmas has come early!
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- Projects & surveys
The Adder Campaign
NEWS: New Advice Note 11: Managing Habitat for Adders: Advice for Land Managers, launched in May 2018 Recognising that habitat loss has been a major factor in the declines of adders that we have observed at so many sites across the UK, ARG UK have been…
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Adders are Amazing!
This exciting new project, led by our Pembrokeshire Adder Coordinator, Sam Langdon, is delivering the ‘community engagement’ aspect of a wider programme to prevent this iconic, but vulnerable native snake from slipping into extinction in large parts of England and Wales. The project will take…
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An ARG view of the 2018 Herpetofauna Workers Meeting - In our own words
Once again, the annual HWM, held at the Hilton Hotel, Northampton (3-4 February 2018), and jointly organised by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK, proved to be a lively and informative event. The centre point of our annual calendar, it…Read more: An ARG view of the 2018 Herpetofauna Workers Meeting - In our own words
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- Projects & surveys
Toads on Roads - Toad Patrolling for ARGs
Toadsare normally solitary creatures, but during the spring period, from early February through to early April (depending on weather variables), they will join with hundreds of other toads to migrate to their ancestral breeding ponds, crossing anything in their path. Sometimes this involves crossing busy…
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- Support for ARGs
The General Data Protection Regulation (2018) for ARG volunteer groups
On 25th May 2018 the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force. This is not a new legislation, as it builds on the Data Protection Act 1998. Nevertheless, it represents an important challenge for volunteer groups, since there will be greater scrutiny of…Read more: The General Data Protection Regulation (2018) for ARG volunteer groups
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Make the Adder Count in 2018
Welcome to Make the Adder Count 2018. Started in 2005, this long-running survey aims to encourage springtime counts of adders, with the objectives of informing local conservation projects/interests and gathering a long-term surveillance dataset. Thank you to all the volunteers who have returned their data from…
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Networking at the RAVON International Adder Symposium, December 2017
A small group from ARG UK along with colleagues from ARC, Bangor University and DICE, were delighted to attend the International Adder Symposium, in Velp in the Netherlands on 9thDecember 2017, which was organised by our friends and colleagues from the Workinggroup Adderresearch Netherlands (WAN)…Read more: Networking at the RAVON International Adder Symposium, December 2017
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Garden Wildlife Health Initiative
Nurture the nature in your garden - Call for garden-owners to help save Britain's wildlife
ARGUK has been asked to contribute to a new project, the Garden Wildlife Health Project which is being run by a consortium of wildlife organisations including the British Trust for Ornithology and…
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What does the re-classification of European grass snakes mean for our native grass snakes?
With thanks to Rob Ward, University of Kent. Following on from the recent publication of the scientific paper by Kindler et al., (2017), there have been some misunderstandings about the classification of our native UK grass snake. To clarify:Then:
Until recently, two species…
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- About Us
Our Mission and Guiding Principles
Our Mission
Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARG UK) is committed to the conservation of native amphibians and reptiles and their natural environment by supporting the development of a network of independent volunteer amphibian and reptile groups (ARGs).Our Charitable Objectives
The charitable objectives of Amphibian…
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100% fund news - Swabbing midwife toads for chytrid in Cambridgeshire
Throughout 2016 and 2017 the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Amphibian and Reptile Group (CPARG) has been monitoring a population of the non-native midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans). As a part of this programme, the animals encountered were swabbed for the amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) which has…Read more: 100% fund news - Swabbing midwife toads for chytrid in Cambridgeshire
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Revised Advice note 4 - Amphibian Disease Precautions, A Guide for UK Fieldworkers
We are delighted to be able to launch the newly revised version of "Advice note 4 - Amphibian Disease Precautions, A Guide for UK Fieldworkers", which is published in March 2017. This important resource for amphibian fieldworkers and trainers has been comprehensively revised in partnership…Read more: Revised Advice note 4 - Amphibian Disease Precautions, A Guide for UK Fieldworkers
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Latest Updates on GCN licensing reforms
UPDATE 24 November 2017 We've uploaded the latest summary of the status of the GCN DLL roll out from NE. For more information on their GCN DLL package you can download their factsheet here. The background is set out in their letter to the LPAs. NE have…
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Kids' stickers and fun fact sheets
ARGUK is delighted to partner with the artist Mabel Harris to create a vibrant new range of stickers, fun fact and colouring sheets for our budding young herpetologists. These are perfect for events and other herp-themed activities. We are delighted to be able to offer a range of…
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