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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Research grants // Our internship projects // Bringing adders back to Nottinghamshire

Bringing adders back to Nottinghamshire

Adder-Notts-WT-cpt-Jon-Hawkins-PTES-internship-adders-in-nottinghamshire

Our intern Hannah will be making a bespoke reintroduction plan to return extinct adders to Nottinghamshire

The absent adders

The problem

Several recent surveys, including one conducted by John Worthington-Hill a former PTES intern, suggest that adders are locally extinct in Nottinghamshire. Worryingly, further research also indicates that Nottinghamshire’s surrounding counties have a similar trend.

Many of our adders remain in isolated populations in a heavily fragmented landscape. It appears that adders have been lost from 40% of their previous range.

This decline is really troubling. Unless we intervene now, the snakes that remain may well perish within as little as 16 years. Sadly, this has already become a reality for Nottinghamshire.

The solution

PTES is supporting Hannah Bond to take the first important steps to bring adders back to Nottinghamshire. Hannah is working with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, with support from Nottingham Trent University and a 5-year NLHF Landscape Partnership Scheme (Miner2Major) to begin the recovery programme.

The IUCN have produced reintroduction guidelines which include how to decide whether captive breeding or translocations are an acceptable option. These guidelines will also help with the planning of the project, how to undertake a risk assessment and what the most effective post-release monitoring is.

Hannah will use the IUCN guidance to make a bespoke plan for Nottinghamshire. This important first step will then pave the way for, we hope, for adders to be returned to the county within the next five years.

This project is possible thanks to our generous donors. Can you help us continue?

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