May 2013 - Reaseheath College

Project Atta for RHES

24 May 2013/in RHES news/by reaseheath

Reaseheath Herpetological and Entomological Society (RHES) were set a project to redesign and build the Leaf Cutter Ant (Atta cephalotes) display at Reaseheath College/Zoo by Keeper Instructor Lauren Lane. This project would help them form one of their main aims of the society to develop skills for industry. Little did RHES know that designing an exhibit for leaf cutter ants was one of the hardest exhibits to create with their will to escape and sensitivity to chemicals.

The leaf cutter ant display prior to RHES redesign was an exhibit that cost around £9.00 to construct with recycled tanks, bricks and rope. The society were only given a few concepts they had to include these were to make room for other species to be displayed, the ants set up was to look more natural and less clinical, the ants should at some point come close to the window for the visitors to enjoy and exhibits should be on different levels for when the zoo is open to the public so small children can enjoy the invertebrate display window. From this the group got together and came up with some ideas. These were drawn on a white board and a very basic list of items needed was drawn up. Keeper/Instructor Joe Chattel was drafted in to teach RHES the basics of rock work so they can make their tree buttresses. After one slot with Joe by the following week they had structures ready to be concreted.

We discovered through this project that student Elliot White, member of RHES is incredibly talented when it came to art and design. The buttress that he shaped at home in his own time is the one that currently houses the fungus gardens for the ants. RHES also visited London Zoo to speak to invertebrate keeper Jeff Lambert about key issues when working with Leaf Cutter Ants, this assisted them with their design.

RHES started to piece together the exhibit in between lessons and during their weekly meetings. New rope was suspended from the ceiling extending out into the room, a stand was created with tanks that can be interchangeable so more species can be on show, and security measures put in place to prevent escape in the form of copper coils painted with fluon and interpretation added to bring the display together.

The new leaf cutter ant exhibit is now up and running with other species such as Indian social spiders and ferocious water bugs now housed in the refurbished invertebrate display window ready for open day. I would like to personally thank RHES for putting in so much hard work and enthusiasm, Joe Chattell for passing on his skills to RHES and Jeff Lambert at ZSL for his advice and support to the society. We look forward to hearing your feedback on the new exhibit.

Old display window

New display window

RHES Take the Leap of Faith

20 May 2013/in RHES news/by reaseheath

RHES (Reaseheath Herpetological and Entomological Society) took the leap of faith organised by Reaseheath’s own Adventure Sports students in aid of North Wales Reptile and Raptor Sanctuary (NWRR). One of RHES’s aims is to support a related charity through their work. This year they are supporting NWRR and have already raised some money during the lambing weekends at the zoo.

Jamie Vince takes the leap of faith

The leap of faith took some serious courage! RHES members were challenged to climb the 45ft pole, clamber on to a platform and then leap into the air to hit a target without losing their nerve. The participating students who took the leap collected sponsorship and raised an incredible total of £273.83.

Many supporters turned out to cheer the group on along with the support and encouragement from the Adventure Sports students who were holding the ropes in which their harnesses were attached to. The brave fundraisers will be visiting NWRR later this month to present the charity with the money they have raised. The funds raised will help the charity do the amazing work they have been doing rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming/releasing injured and neglected reptiles and birds of prey.

RHES members prepare themselves

Well done to RHES and many thanks to the Adventure Sports students for their support.

RHES help monitor Britain’s rarest toad – the Natterjack Toad

17 May 2013/in RHES news/by reaseheath

On the evening of May 7^th after dusk RHES (Reaseheath Herpetological and Entomological Society) assisted the field studies centre in North Wales with a very important data collection survey to help us understand Britain’s rarest toad, the Natterjack Toad.

After a two hour classroom session learning about the history, ecology and behavior of the Natterjacks RHES headed out with trained volunteers to collect some important data which will help authorities understand this species better. The huge team of people managed to cover three sites where the toads are known to be present. All Natterjacks were collected weighed, measured and sexed before being released back into their breeding pools under a license as this species is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

On the night a successful 110 Natterjack toads were collected and processed a small number of Common Toads were relocated to another site to reduce competition for the Natterjack Toad.

During the evening RHES learnt some valuable fieldwork techniques and had a great time whilst collecting valuable data for one of our most threatened species.