Saturday 25th July-
Green Watch Activity Day
Last weekend I spent the day in Hertford representing the Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Group (HARG) at the Greenwatch Activity Day.
We spent the day chatting to members of the public about the reptiles and amphibians found in Hertfordshire, helping people identify species they might see in their gardens or while out walking, and collecting records of local sightings. Every record helps us build a better picture of where these animals are living across the county.
We also brought along Carlos the snake. He's not a native species, but he did a brilliant job of flying the flag for snakes! He definitely stole the show and helped a lot of people, especially children, see that snakes aren't quite as scary as they first thought.
One of the nicest parts of the day was seeing how interested so many children were. They asked loads of questions, were keen to learn about our native species, and loved getting up close to Carlos. It's always encouraging to see that enthusiasm because today's curious kids are tomorrow's conservationists.
Days like this are a great reminder that conservation isn't just about research and fieldwork. It's also about getting people interested in wildlife and helping them appreciate the amazing animals living on their doorstep. If more people know what they're looking at, they're much more likely to report sightings and help protect these species.
A big thank you to everyone who stopped by for a chat, shared their wildlife sightings, or came to meet Carlos. We had a fantastic day and hopefully inspired a few more people to keep an eye out for Hertfordshire's amphibians and reptiles.
Last weekend I spent the day in Hertford representing the Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Group (HARG) at the Greenwatch Activity Day.
We spent the day chatting to members of the public about the reptiles and amphibians found in Hertfordshire, helping people identify species they might see in their gardens or while out walking, and collecting records of local sightings. Every record helps us build a better picture of where these animals are living across the county.
We also brought along Carlos the snake. He's not a native species, but he did a brilliant job of flying the flag for snakes! He definitely stole the show and helped a lot of people, especially children, see that snakes aren't quite as scary as they first thought.
One of the nicest parts of the day was seeing how interested so many children were. They asked loads of questions, were keen to learn about our native species, and loved getting up close to Carlos. It's always encouraging to see that enthusiasm because today's curious kids are tomorrow's conservationists.
Days like this are a great reminder that conservation isn't just about research and fieldwork. It's also about getting people interested in wildlife and helping them appreciate the amazing animals living on their doorstep. If more people know what they're looking at, they're much more likely to report sightings and help protect these species.
A big thank you to everyone who stopped by for a chat, shared their wildlife sightings, or came to meet Carlos. We had a fantastic day and hopefully inspired a few more people to keep an eye out for Hertfordshire's amphibians and reptiles.