Pondwatch JE training 2023

What is Pondwatch JE?

Pondwatch JE is a project that aims to gather sightings of Jersey’s pond life to help assess their conservation status, distribution and habitat requirements.

How can you help?

There are opportunities for everyone to get involved. Depending on your interest, available time and experience you can currently get involved in two ways.

Level 1 – spend 30 minutes looking for wildlife in ponds and send us your results. No experience or training is required.
Level 2 – carry out 5 surveys, each taking 30‒60 minutes. You will search for amphibians and other pond life at a pond using three methods; visual searches, netting and night time torch surveys. You do not need experience but you will need to attend a training event.

Schedule of the day:

• 10:00 – Bob Thompkins – Local Naturalist – Jersey Eels
• 10:20 – Adam Dallas Chapman – Government of Jersey – Nocturnal Adventures – The Agile frog
• 10:45 – John Wilkinson – Amphibian and Reptile Conservation – Pond Life identification
• 11:15 – Sarah Maguire – Jersey Biodiversity Centre – Level 1 – Pondwatch – Pond survey methods and data recording
• 11:45 – John Wilkinson – Amphibian and Reptile Conservation – Level 2 – Pondwatch – Pond survey methods including habitat assessment, health & safety, biosecurity and data recording
• 12:30 – Demonstration, practical session and questions led by JARG and ARC – Level 2 -Pondwatch Field Session
• 13:30 – Lunch
• 14:00 – Sign up

After lunch there will be an opportunity sign up, discuss ponds sites, allocate ponds if needed. Once signed up you can take equipment and sign the relevant forms.

Note: Light refreshments will be provided. We cannot cater for specific dietary requirements.

Please don’t forget to wear appropriate clothing and bring some wellington boots and waterproofs to be able to participate in the field session.

Pondwatch is the successor to both the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) which ran in Jersey from 2007 to 2018 and Toadwatch which ran from 2005 to 2018. During this time volunteers provided a great deal of information which has been used to inform the design of Pondwatch as well as influence efforts to protect the species. 2023 is Pondwatch’s 5th Anniversary.