Although
a small nature reserve, a little over 1/2 acre, it is the
only significant refuge left for all three species of reptile
in Acton.
The Churchyard once hadC.W.S (county wildlife status)
resulting from surveys carried out in the late eighties,
when lizard, grass snake and slow-worm were present, but
sadly the reptile habitat has been fragmented and eroded
and is now quite unsuitable.( C.W.S ceased in 1999)Three
visits during 2004 resulted in just one immature grass
snake and sadly, one dead slow-worm, a victim of irregular
and close mowing: No lizards found. The bank on the north
of the playing field was an ideal home for a slow-worm
population but this habitat has also been lost. The intensely
arable land on the north side of Acton provides little
habitat for any reptile survival so, Acton wildlife reserve
becomes crucial to the survival of the three species of
reptile in the Acton area. |
Habitat improvement began
in 2003 and will continue through 2005, by carefully adding
to the exisiting log piles to elevate them and provide more
hours of basking in the spring and autumn when the sun is
lower in the sky. Reptiles in the northern hemisphere need
to warm their body to become active enough to forage for
food. grass snakes use piles of decaying vegetation as hatcheries,
the heat generated within helps incubate the eggs. Vegetation
resulting from management work will be added to he hatchery
heaps year on year; we can use all natural materials from
the reserve, there is no reason to burn and risk the destruction
of mammals, reptiles and invertebrates.
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