This field season Suffolk Amphibian and Reptile Group has run several field/training events focusing on snakes. In the springtime volunteers were invited to take part in adder surveys, aimed at locating aggregation areas. Early to mid-spring is the ideal time to observe adders as males in particular bask during almost any sunny break in the weather.

Later in the year, in August, Duncan Sweeting led a training day focusing on grass snakes. Duncan has produced excellent display materials including shed snake skins and a mock-up of a grass snake egg-laying site. Duncan was able to use these in the field as part of his mobile classroom. The training day was held at Alton Reservoir, where Anglian Water has created a series of grass snake egg laying sites. These are large heaps of meadow grass cuttings, laid over bases of cut branches and brash. The heat and moisture within the decomposing heaps provides suitable conditions for incubating grass snake eggs. The heaps are also attractive to other reptiles, and common lizards were abundant during the field visit.

The 2007 survey season will be upon us before we know it. Suffolk Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG) meets two or three times a year and welcomes anyone interested in amphibian or reptile survey. The group's main focus is recording the distribution of the county's herpetofauna. To find out details of the group’s activities contact either Rosie Norton or John Baker.

Suffolk Amphibian and Reptile Group is grateful to Anglian Water and the Forestry Commission for hosting field events in 2006.