WILDLIFE
but also because they prefer less acidic condi- tions, and require ponds with a neutral pH balance. Like all reptiles and amphibians, newts
are under constant siege from habitat loss and pollution. Migrating frogs and toads in particular also suffer from the salt put down to treat roads in winter – this can cause skin lesions and lead to death. When Trevor Rose, a design engineer in the
oil industry, moved to Scotland from the south of England in 2000 he was in clover as far as reptiles and amphibians were concerned. His first six years were spent in Dumfriesshire, and though he was close to one of Scotland’s only populations of the fabulous natterjack toad, when he moved to Montrose in 2006, he found the surrounding Angus glens even better for a wide range of species, and quickly discovered that Glen Esk was one of the best places of all, particularly for adders. He established the Friends of Angus Herpeto-
fauna in affiliation with ARG-UK, the national umbrella group for local amphibian and reptile groups, and works tirelessly training volunteers to carry out important surveys, record findings and protect these vulnerable creatures. Trevor and his wife are also foster parents and over the years have cared for children from all walks of life, yet in between he finds time to complete extensive surveys while constantly endeavouring to ease the plight of our beleaguered herpetofauna. He claims it all stems from his childhood.
‘My passion for reptiles began early when my brother used to bring various creatures home with him – slow worms, frogs, toads and newts. He also had a very beautiful green lizard and I thought this was such a lovely little thing. While he gave it up, my interest simply grew and grew.’ I first came across him in 2011 when I
read about his impassioned fight to save an important isolated population of common lizards at Kinnaber Moor, near Montrose. Angus Council was due to construct a new cycle path, part of the Sustrans network across the UK, with no prior knowledge of the lizards’ existence. FAH stepped in just before work was due to commence and managed to preserve some of the existing habitat, create new areas for the lizards and rescue some of them from certain death.
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With forthright publicity and the help
of volunteers and members of the public, eventually over a hundred people joined together in support of the threatened lizards. The end result was fairly satisfactory and is an achievement Rose, who is quietly spoken and modest, is justly proud of. ‘It was entirely due to our campaigning and mitigation, and the strength of support from the general public that we achieved what we did, and happily just with a little alteration of the path’s siting and less removal of the all-important gorse, the lizards are thriving. ‘We had a mad rush to capture as many as
we could to move them from the site. I knew they would eventually return but felt at least if they were out of the way while work was in progress, it would help. The law only protects them against being killed or injured, and not against the destruction of their habitat – rather ridiculous because as a result this means they actually get no protection at all.’ Rose is a man with strong views when it
comes to looking after ‘herps’, as their followers refer to them. An interesting theory I heard recently claimed that adder numbers have fallen because there are ‘too many buzzards’ and I asked Rose what he thought about this; we both agreed that nature finds its own balance, and that the idea was unfounded. However, he certainly believes that as well as serious threats to habitat for herpetofauna, releasing vast numbers of non-native pheasants into the British countryside has had a seriously detrimental effect. ‘These birds have origins in Asia and have an inbuilt behaviour whereby they kill snakes and any other native reptiles, and often in large numbers. Young adders, for example, are perfect for pheasants.’ Scotland is fortunate to have such concerned
and dedicated individuals as Trevor Rose in its midst for these are creatures that deserve our utmost respect. He is a walking encyclopaedia of practical field knowledge on his subject and his amphibian ambles all around Scotland make him well placed to comment. After a most enjoyable and instructive training day with him, I laughed when I spotted his car number plate as he drove off – FR09 MAD – it does not get much more passionate than that!
See
http://groups.arguk.org/fah for more details about Trevor Rose’s group
IMAGES - COSMIN MANCI & CREATIVE
NATURE.NL/SHUTTERSTOCK
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