KRAG WILDLIFE SURVEY

WILDLIFE SURVEY - KENT REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN GROUP

What wildlife have you seen in your garden or in and around Wrotham, Borough Green and Platt? In order for the true richness of the wildlife we have in our communities to be taken into account we need to record it. What have you seen in your garden? What have you seen when you have been out walking? It doesn't matter how long ago you saw it, or whether it was dead or alive, it's still a record! People regularly tell me what they have seen but we need to get the information onto the official databases in order for it to be taken into account. Wildlife is under constant threat from development, habitat loss, and fragmentation by roads and building. We cannot protect wildlife if we do not know it is there.

Picture Bluebells - Behind Borough Green Rec

Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group (KRAG) holds the database for reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna) in the county of Kent and has a data sharing agreement with the Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre (KMBRC). KRAG endeavours to build up long-term herpetofauna records so that we can better understand the distribution of these threatened animals across the county and also compiles data for Key Sites in an attempt to safeguard them from development or mismanagement. Old records are also extremely useful as they help us record population declines. There is space for you to record other animals on the form too.

Recording forms are being enclosed in your Parish magazine. If you require any more record forms please contact Jo Richards on 883 669. There is also a link to a downloadable form at the bottom of the page

Picture Grass Snake BG Rec Lewis Colli

You can also submit an online record at: www.kentarg.org under "submit your amphibian and reptile sightings online", all you need to do is fill out the simple recording form. Post codes are converted to grid references and the information will then be entered onto the database. For all other flora and fauna you can submit records to the Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre (KMBRC) www.kmbrc.org.uk. Remember, it doesn't matter if it was 40 years ago or 40 minutes ago - it's a record! LET’S GET RECORDING!

Picture : Early Purple Orchid- Woods behind Borough Green Rec

Jo Richards, BSc (Hons) Environmental ScienceHon. Education and Publicity Officer, Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group Local resident

Picture - Adder - Wrotham Water

Picture - Great Crested Newt - Harry Rayner

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR RECORD FORM: You can either: · Post them to the address on the form · drop them in to the special collection box for your village which is held at: SHAKTI NEWS, High St.· drop them into: Jo Richards, 150 Maidstone Road, Borough Green, TN15 8HQ, or 41, Maidstone Rd. If you require any more record forms please contact Jo Richards on 883 669.

Online Form at http://boroughgreen-news.com.istemp.com/rich_text_10.html

Feel free to download and use images.