Natural England

Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve, near Whitchurch, on the Wrexham/ Shropshire border is famous for its snakes, lizards and newts.

On Sunday, 11 May at 9am, Natural England’s new Reserve Manager Pete Bowyer will lead a hunt for reptiles and amphibians from the Manor House National Nature Reserve Base, near the Waggoner’s pub in Whixall, onto Fenn’s and Whixall Mosses. Booking is essential.

The Moss has four recorded species of reptile, the adder, common lizard, grass snake and slowworm, and its amphibians include the common frog, toad, palmate and great crested newt. The hunt will follow a route through woodland, scrub and fields up onto the open Mosses, to try to increase the number of records of different species on the National Nature Reserve.

Whixall’s most famous reptile is the adder, Britain’s only native poisonous snake. These very shy creatures used to be very common on many wild areas in Britain but now are so rare they are totally protected by law. Habitat loss has played a large part in their decline as wastelands have been built on and are regularly disturbed by walkers, particularly with dogs.

Adders are often found on peat bogs, sunning themselves on the top of tussocks, and living off bog insects, small mammals and ground nesting birds eggs and chicks. They live in the middle of the Moss in the summer and then migrate to the drier edges when the wetter conditions of winter arrive. Males are about 30 cm long and are light grey with a distinct zig-zag pattern down their backs, but the females are larger and black to camouflage themselves against the black peat and also to absorb more heat from the sun to help in nurturing their young.

Like the common lizard, adders are specially adapted to living in the very acidic conditions of the Mosses raised bog. Other reptiles like the grass snake and slowworm lay soft-shelled eggs which would be damaged by the acid bog water, so can only live in the richer conditions round the edge of the Moss, as do frogs and toads. Common lizard and adder overcome the problem of corrosive conditions by carrying their developing young inside them, giving birth to live young. Palmate newt also seem to be more able to tolerate the acid bog waters and are often found in the marginal rewetted peat cuttings on the Moss, whereas the bog water must be too acid for frog and toad spawn to survive.

Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales have been restoring the Mosses back to an internationally important actively growing raised bog for the last 17 years. Putting the water back on the Mosses has helped its reptiles and amphibians as their habitat is no longer stripped bare by the peat cutting machines, and wildfires can no longer sweep the re-wetted Moss from end to end as they did when it was drained for peat mining for gardens. Clearing pine forest of Bettisfield Moss has also helped by opening the bog surface to the warming sunshine these cold-blooded creatures need.

Natural England’s Senior Reserve Manager Joan Daniels said, “We are trying to find out as much as we can about the distribution of reptiles and amphibians in and around the Mosses, so any findings from this hunt will help a lot. For example, we only have one recent record of grass snake.”

“If any readers living locally have any records of reptiles and amphibians seen on and around the Mosses we would be very pleased if they would contact us.”

Anyone wanting to book on the walk or share their records should ring Joan Daniels on 01948 880362 on weekdays or on 07974 784799 at weekends, or email joan.daniels@naturalengland.org.uk

Notes for editors:

For further information on Fenn's, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses NNR / photo opportunities and other enquiries please contact Dr. J. L. Daniels, Natural England, Manor House, Moss Lane, Whixall, Shropshire, SY13 2PD, (tel. 01948 880362) or email joan.daniels@naturalengland.org.uk

NATURAL ENGLAND

Natural England was established by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk

THE COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

The Countryside Council for Wales champions the environment and landscapes of Wales and its coastal waters as sources of natural and cultural riches, as a foundation for economic and social activity, and as a place for leisure and learning opportunities. We aim to make the environment a valued part of everyone's life in Wales. More information about our work is available on www.ccw.gov.uk