The Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne met with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) staff at the Reptile Centre, Dorset for a reptile briefing during Heath Week. Sir Desmond is ARC’s MP smooth snake species champion and he was keen to find out about the work ARC are doing and how interested visitors were finding out more about the species, from educational officer Owain Masters.
The day showcased ARC’s SiTH project and educational programme offering to schools and the general public.
About SiTH: The smooth snake is Britain’s rarest reptile and needs help to better understand its ecology and status in the wild in order to conserve it.
‘Snakes in the Heather’ is an exciting and ambitious project led by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) to conserve the smooth snake throughout its range in Southern England. The project is advancing our knowledge of the species and coordinating conservation efforts essential for its long-term survival. ARC works in partnership with a wide variety of wildlife conservation organisations, site managers, landowners and individuals to protect this rare and elusive species and the internationally important lowland heathland habitat on which it depends. The project runs for four years across the southern counties until the summer of 2023. Take a look at the project updates to find out what they’ve been up to.
For further info click here.