Our Native Herps ... Photographs taken by Pete Quinlan in the South of England
Adder Vipera berus	Adder Vipera berus	Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara	Grass Snake Natrix natrix	Grass Snake Natrix natrix
Grass Snake Natrix natrix	Grass Snake Natrix natrix	Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris	Grass Snake Natrix natrix	Frogs Spawn
Common Frog Rana temporaria	Common Frog Rana temporaria	Newt	Common Toads Bufo bufo	Common Toads Bufo bufo
Adder Vipera berus	Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara	Slow Worm	Grass Snake Natrix natrix	Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara
Adder Vipera berus

Since I was a a little boy I have been interested in all animals, but my favorite has always been reptiles and amphibians. I spent all my time out in the fields catching them, keeping them for a while to watch and study before putting them back.

30 years on and I'm still mad about this, but don't need to go out all day hunting around anymore. The plan 15 years ago was to bring the wildlife to my own back garden and help our native species that are in decline due to loss of habitat.

Shortly after the pond was made, frogs started to turn up out of nowhere and soon after, loads of frogs spawn. They have really grown in numbers now, but last year I got very concerned about them due to a mystery illness that started killing them off really quickly. But some how they have come back in even greater numbers this year.

A few years ago I helped rescue some common toads spawn from a pond that was going to be lost due to building plans. I put this into my garden pond garden in hope that toads would return in 2 years to spawn. They did return and now come back every year.

I had the same in mind for newts, but they seemed to be in decline in my pond. newts were rarely seen.


until a friend of mine gave me a small group of smooth newts from another pond in trouble last year. It was great to see them return to the pond for the first time this year and see evidence of breeding ,tiny little white eggs folded in the pond weed.