Course convenor(s):
Warren Cresswell(BSc, PhD, CEnv, MIEEM, MIoD)
Philip Davidson (BSc, MIEEM)

Date: 14/05/2009

Course length: 1 day

Venue: Cresswell Associates,
The Mill, Brimscombe
Port, Stroud, GL5 2QG

Course fee: £150
5% or 10% discount available if 2+ / 4+ courses are booked respectively

Outline:

This course provides an introduction to the more widespread British reptiles (slow-worms, common lizards, grass snakes and adders), with particular reference to appropriate survey methodologies and their legislative protection. A field trip will demonstrate survey techniques and habitat assessment.

 

 

Further information:
Cresswell Associates
The Mill, Brimscombe Port
Stroud, GL5 2QG

T: +44 (0) 1453 731 231
F: +44 (0) 1453 888 797

 

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Target audience:
This course is aimed at those who wish to learn about reptile ecology, survey techniques, and relevant legislation, with particular reference to development projects.

Aims:

To provide:

• background information on reptile biology, status and distribution so as to understand when, where and how reptile surveys should be carried out
• information on legislative protection
• information on sources of desk study records

To demonstrate:

• identification, capture and handling techniques for the more widespread reptiles (common lizard, slow-worm, adder and grass snake) in the field
• routine survey techniques to assess reptile habitat and identify the presence or absence of common species

Objectives:

At the end of the course you should be able to: 

• describe the behaviour, ecology and distribution of the widespread British reptile species, and how these influence when, where and how surveys for these species should be carried out
• assess habitat features suitable for the more widespread reptiles

• identify and safely handle reptiles
• use appropriate survey techniques and determine the presence or absence, sex and age classes of the more widespread reptiles
• describe the legal requirements relating to reptiles

Course content:

Lectures

• British reptiles: their ecology and behaviour
• Identification of British reptiles
• Routine survey and handling techniques for widespread British reptiles
• Legislative protection

Fieldwork

• Visit to sites to carry out habitat assessment exercise, and to identify and handle common reptile species.

Additional information/requirements:

2 additional courses on reptiles are also available for those with existing experience of reptile biology, survey techniques and legislation:

• Reptiles (II): Advanced Survey Methods, Impact Assessment and Mitigation
• Reptiles (III): European Protected Species of Reptiles in the UK: Ecology, Identification, Survey Techniques and Licensing Issues