On a sweltering day that was far from conducive to good reptile spotting weather, 18 trainees turned up at Singleton Environment Centre in Ashford to take part in KRAG's training day for NARRS.  The National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme is co-ordinated by the Herpetological Conservation Trust and volunteers are asked to survey a square kilometre near to where they live for both amphibians and reptiles.  Despite the weather, spirits remained high and the first site visit to Ashford Community Woodland yielded two common lizards and a slow worm.  In the afternoon, the group went to Quilters Wood which is an area that has been monitored by KRAG for several years and is a known adder site.  The intense heat of the afternoon had seen off all of the adders on the site but there were plenty of slow worms.  So it seems that the old phrase should be altered to 'mad dogs, Englishmen and the odd slow worm go out in the mid day sun!'

Many thanks to all those who took part on the day and good luck with your surveys.