ARG UK

📣 In-person tickets for this event are now sold out! But you can still join us live online, or join the waitlist to be there in person on 10th March. Find out more and reserve your ticket: www.zsl.org/news-and-eve...

A pop into my #Somerset #garden and a very welcome sight in my pond: Frogspawn and ribbiting frog!🐸💚
@froglife.bsky.social #wildlife #nature

I posted about an extremely early slow worm on 22nd Feb last year. At dawn this morning I found this one, exposed and apparently dead in my garden path. Became apparent it was alive but v.lethargic. Relocated to centre of compost heap. Contemplated captive care until spring. @argroupsuk.bsky.social

We’ve published our response to the "Lost Frogs report".

Read our statement here: https://www.arc-trust.org/lost-frogs-report-comment-from-amphibian-and-reptile-conservation-trust

Pond edge with one frog visible.

Pond shallow end, no frogs visible yet.

As we get closer to February, we have male frogs beginning to hang about the edges of pond 2. So far only two or three... stay tuned.

More work being undertaken this week for our adder project with the Cannock Chase National Landscape. Widening a narrow ride to give more opportunities for basking. Work organised by the Mining Remediation Authority's Nature Recovery Manager tree work by Crown Works Tree Services

First Common Lizard sighting of 2026 at Blackhead Path, N Ireland. Basking in a clump of dry grass in the winter sunshine.

A very early Common Lizard sighting and the first of 2026 at the Blackhead Path, Co Antrim, this afternoon (15 Jan 2026). Only around 6C but a very sunny day, allowing favoured spots to provide enough warmth. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Responding to questions about ongoing media coverage of proposed amphibian reintroductions, ARG UK wishes to clarify its position, building on our Policy Statement Concerning Reintroductions, and ARG UK Advice Note 12 Amphibian and Reptile Reintroduction Guidelines.

www.arguk.org/get-involved...

Legislation and policy update December 2025 It has been a busy few weeks for legislation and policy affecting reptiles and amphibians. Here are the key points. The Government has now concluded the 7th Quinquennial Review of species protected under Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. JNCC had advised a range of changes to levels of protection for species, including an increase in protection for the adder. However, Government has now confirmed that it will not implement any of the changes in England. From a reptile and amphibian perspective, we are relieved that Government has not agreed with the calls for...

🐍 Legislation & policy update – December 2025

👉 Read our update here: https://www.arc-trust.org/legislation-and-policy-update-december-2025

Two more records have been added to the 2026 PondNet #SpawnSurvey! 🐸 One in Helston, Cornwall on 12th December and one in a garden pond in St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly on 17th December.

📸 by Lucy Thresher and Carole Cilia.

A group of over 20 environmental NGOs including us worked on the reponse over 2 years & co-ordinated by Froglife & PTES submitted extensive data
We were pleased to see proposals accepted by JNCC to increase protection for the rapidly declining adder in England but its now come to nothing.

The Government has reponded to the advice from JNCC on the 7th quinquennial review of species protections under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Many environmental NGOs took part
The response from Mary Creagh MP is thanks for doing it but they will not be implementing the proposed amendments

Reminder that bookings are being taken for the 2026 Herpetological Workers Meeting in Glasgow on the 31st January and 1st February.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/herpetofau...

A great new opportunity to study for a PhD at the University of Reading.

This is a project linked with Froglife that aims to model the life cycle of the common toad and look at the impact of climate variation on UK populations.

More info and apply by 12th Jan 2026: https://ow.ly/SZki50XInlU

Habitats for frogs, toads & newts are in decline: 50% of ponds were lost during the 20th century, and of those that remain, 80% are in a poor state. So garden ponds are crucial for helping amphibians survive - & they help all sorts of other wildlife too!
More: littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/cre...

The Government has partially backed away from weakening Biodiversity Net Gain – but nature still loses out.

Exempting developments under 0.2ha risks hollowing out one of England’s most important nature protections🐝🌱
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I’ve been trying to work out if the Government are on track to meet their ambitious target to create or restore 250,000 hectares of habitats outside protected sites by 2030, announced yesterday.

Turns out the Government themselves don’t yet have a way of measuring this!

www.gov.uk/government/p...

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill will soon be law, but huge amounts of detail remain to be decided. Government needs to minimise environmental risk and uncertainty, as well as ensure that safeguards for wildlife are upheld. With nature in decline, we can't afford to leave it to chance.

While working today, in woods making new tracks, at Eling (Berkshire) flushed a Woodcock & then found this Common Frog #berksbirds #ukbirding #ukbirds #amphibian #ukwildlife @berksbirdclub.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social @argroupsuk.bsky.social

Ghost pond resurrection – the most successful ecological restoration ever known? — Freshwater Biological Association Carl Sayer is Professor of Limnology & Freshwater Ecology at UCL. We were delighted that Carl was able to attend the FBA ASM to deliver a keynote talk on ghost ponds. These pond resurrections are ...

Ghost pond resurrection. Is it the most successful form of ecological restoration known? www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/gh...

The new great crested newt ponds created by Froglife Ecological Services through the Natural England-funded DLL scheme are starting to fill up in Epping Forest.

A great boost for local biodiversity and future breeding habitats!

National Emergency Briefing An unfiltered assessment of the latest threats to UK food supply, health and national security from eight leading experts to an invitation-only audience - also covering positive solutions. Westminster...

Open letter from over 1,000 UK scientists urging all MPs to attend the National Emergency Briefing. A huge list full of highly respected names.

"Without much more urgent and decisive action, we risk seeing these impacts overwhelm our capacity to respond."

Please share with your MP #NEB2025

Yes! Hilary McGrady and the National Trust are right. Nature isn't a blocker to development - it's fundamental to a healthy, thriving economy.

The Chancellor must stop bat-bashing and instead embrace people's love of nature and the economic opportunity that it brings.🌳

A split image showing Canford Heath, Dorset: left side features a 1960s land utilization survey map with color-coded zones; right side displays a present-day satellite view, highlighting urban development over former heathland.

A historical land use map of Downham Market, Norfolk from the 1960s, shaded to show various land types like arable, urban, and woodland.

Four digitised maps showing land cover changes in Wolverhampton, England from 1930 to 2020, highlighting shifts from broadleaved woodland and grassland to arable land and urban areas.

New analysis of 1960s land use maps, many created by schoolchildren and students, reveals fresh insights on the timing and extent of habitat losses caused by post-war agricultural intensification and urban growth in England and Wales.

www.ceh.ac.uk/press/maps-c...

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#maps #LandUse

Our Peterborough #GreenTalent team joined volunteers at Hampton Nature Reserve for some hands-on habitat management recently.

If you would like to get involved, please contact Clare at clare.middleton@froglife.org

Thanks National Lottery Heritage Fund & #NationalLottery players for helping us!

Herp Workers Meeting 2026 - 31/01/2026 10:00:00 Join us for Herpetofauna Workers' Meeting 2026 on 31st January & 1 February 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow

We are delighted to announce the launch of the annual Herpetofauna Workers Meeting #hwm2026, jointly with @arc-trust.bsky.social at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow, 31 Jan-1 Feb 2026. Follow the link for bookings.

www.arc-trust.org/herp-workers...

Herp Workers Meeting 2026 - 31/01/2026 10:00:00 Join us for Herpetofauna Workers' Meeting 2026 on 31st January & 1 February 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow

Booking is now open for the 2026 Herpetofauna Workers' Meeting #HWM2026 which is being held in Glasgow on Saturday 31st January & Sunday 1st February.
To see the draft programme, booking arrangements & other useful information go to the ARC website page at www.arc-trust.org/Event/herp-w...

🚨 Only 30 places left for #NBNconf25 !
With 2 weeks to go, we’re nearly full — book now to join us in Bristol! 🐝🌿
🎤 Programme & speakers: bit.ly/NBNconf25

#Biodiversity #Data #Networking

Report dead wild birds How to report dead wild birds.

⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for bird flu via the forms below ⬇️

📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/rep...
📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/.../daera-de....
📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report