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Bringing adders back 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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