I was talking about this to Steve (Vicar) on the RAUK fieldtrip, totally agree Al, but then maybe we have the responsibility to get the kids thinking native species conservation. A bit of pond dipping and stuff. Trouble is these days it all comes down to Health and Safety and school seem reluctant to do this sort of stuff. I've even had occasions when taking a herp into a school led to cries of 'salmonella'

I used to do talks at schools when I had Merlin the common toad, really was a good thing and all the kids would fall in love with Merlin, but now it seems like too much trouble.

Probably many of you are too young to remember Nature Study as a taught subject in primary school. Not only were we not H&S mad but also kids could touch - frogs etc. Many of us on this forum collected frog spawn and reared it to froglets. How many have kept newts for a while too? Maybe even slow worms or a grass snake?

Combined with the look but don't touch approach the H&S obsession has reduced nature study, as was, to something that does not fire up kids' enthusiasm. Sure those of us with kids have done it differently but what about all those whose parents aren't interested. How do they experience the wonder of it all?

That's the same with everything though Al, if H asked me when he is a bit older if he could have a motorbike.. the answer would be NO WAY... excuse me cough cough, while I check the classifieds for a Pan Euro... need something to get me to the airfield quicker LOL. Trouble is H&S has all been taken to ridiculous extremes.

I must admit even when H learnt to ride his push bike I had to get Merv to be the one to 'let go'.. H rides his bike quite well now though.

Unfortunately H isn't that into herps, though he does have a good attitude to wildlife, something many kids these days sadly lack, he spent an hour once building a little house out of dried grass for a couple of ladybirds he had found.

I was amazed to hear that kids now don't use chemicals in chemistry, I know it was a boring subject with the chemicals, but I bet we all remember that goop that blocked the sink with when we mixed the red stuff with the blue stuff and it turned orange and stank.. imagine what it is like now without that light relief!

I asked H recently if he liked science, answer, "no boring", then I found out they don't do anything practical.. he's right boring as boring gets.

Thats why Gemma should be praised (crawl crawl) for this site (together with all the helpful 'experts') as its great just being able to bounce around ideas without getting all that snorting of derision stuff. And Al, I wouldn't worry mate. Those kids that you see in pet shops buying "snow corns" will eventually tire of cages and seek the real stuff. I did, my own kids have (20 and 19) and no doubt will so many others.

My only fear is that our native herps may become too scarce for 'youngsters or novices' to find. I mean, look at the trouble Phil is having......

R  

Fantastic memory Tony and, as you say, one not to be collected today.

Life - you are here at your own risk!

Every day I read of things being closed "for the safety of the public". Is it any wonder kids love going abroad on gap years etc. to do all the things that would be frowned on, if not outright banned, in this country.

Yes you need to weigh up the dangers before you do things but nothing is totally safe and there will still be tragedies. Our litigious society means a bob or two can be made when things go wrong so I suppose it is understandable to overdo the H&S. A shame in many respects.

Snow! School Closed! YIPPEE!

Well that's what I would have said.

I agree with Tony about puberty kicking in. Most minds turn to the opposite sex and well.... you know how it is. But, if you have it in you it should eventually come out.

And we should give Gemma a medal. This is a great site.

Concerning the snow in the Lake District - 'next to nowt' of the stuff here anymore, but if we are lucky there'll be a couple of centimeters overnight, and after going on a cold, leaky bus for 23miles to go to school we'll get sent home at lunch time, but that's the best case.

Alan, it is a nice place to live in, with the fells and mountains and lakes and all, but the weather is absolutley shockin' most days outside of summer, so it helps to live near some mates and a footy pitch

Suzi, where abouts did you used to live in the Lake District, and which school did you used to go to?

And now regarding herps and younger people, I am the only person my age who likes reptiles and amphibians that I know - everyone else just thinks it's creepy and wierd, i'm guessing because they just don't know about them. There are some amphibians and the occasional lizard at my school, but i'm not too sure about the lizards any more as anyone who happens to come across them think it's 'cool' to step on them or set fire to them with lighters to prove the point that they are 'harder' and 'more solid' than a tiny lizard ...

And finally regarding the 'cotton wool' thing, my mum is against the idea of me going to Ennerdale Lake by myself to find lizards and amphibs, even though it's only 8 miles away from our house, whereas she was allowed to go out without her mother knowing where she was going, and my dad was allowed to go to watch cricket 40 miles from his house when he was my age!!! It's just unbeliveable .....

Dan

Whops!

Sorry to mess with your mind Tony, but I think the more sensible amongst us know what I mean................I hope.

I think there are more youngsters like Dan out there. So come on kids, lets hear from you.

Guess there aren't any more, not on here at least........ Real shame.........

I understand what you meant to say a few pages ago Deano, but with the context it was in I admit to laughing at it when I first saw it lol... real mature, I know (but i'm only 15 so its O.K )

After my last post on here in April I've gained more independance and been allowed to cycle to ennerdale and other places to find herps weather permitting and to do some other stuff, but don't think that, like Tony, I'd be allowed to ride to the new forest and camp for a while (sooo lucky!)

Just wondering at what age people on here started to get into reptiles, and photography, because the photos on here are awsome, and must've taken years to be able to get the experience necessary to take them; I'm in my 2nd year of it and like to think that mine are alright, but nothing special. Hope to improve them soon.

But on a lower note, i'm starting to feel that no-one will take me seriously as liking reptiles (due to my age i'm guessing), because after e-mailing a few people numerous times regarding adders and other reptiles in cumbria, the emails have just been ignored, and only one person has replied (emails were about a month ago), but so far the other two have not - one of which is a member of this forum, but oh well... what can i do?...... So if you read this, please get back to me before it's too late (no names, you know who you are)

hi dan

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/reptile-and-amphibian-forums/16771-i-guess-snakes-dont-like-me.html - http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/reptile-and-amphibi an-forums/16771-i-guess-snakes-dont-like-me.html

i came across this on another forum. i know cumbria is a big place and you may be miles away from each other, but did it anyone ever get in touch?

tim

Dan,

I think you know I lived in the Lake District as a kid - well 9 to 18 - and with my younger brother we took a keen interest in reptiles and amphibians. My brother was the keenest and he started whilst we still lived in grimy (then) Bolton by collecting newts which he kept in tanks in the back yard.

Imagine our delight on moving to the wilds of the Lake District to find heaps of grass snakes, slow worms (not a lot where we were) and adders. Also newts, toads and frogs.

We were lucky in that we had parents who encouraged our interests and let us keep stuff to look at for a short while (but not adders!). We lived in a time when kids were allowed to be more free ranging and sadly times have changed and people restrict their kids wandering more these days.

I think you'll find that the majority of people on this forum started an interest when they were young and it has never left them. Some have even managed to make a living out of it but that is probably quite hard to do. I don't think it will be the case that no one takes you seriously I think it will be more that most people on here do their herping in the southern half of the country. Having said that I live in Devon and interest is pretty limited down here. We don't even have an ARG - I've asked and had it suggested I start one. Unfortunately I'm too busy with other stuff.

Don't get downhearted.

Interest is also limited up here, with no ARG, so in my opinion all the more reason to respond to the next generation as so to maintain a helathy interest from the younger people so that the creatures can be understood more and persecuted less by everyone in time.

Dan,

I lived near Esthwaite! In fact it was owned by the estate I lived on! The area around Lake Windermere/Coniston/Rusland was where we knew best and where all these species were found. We even had lizards in our garden.

Maybe because of your age people are reluctant to get in contact as they might feel they would have to be responsible for you. Maybe it is not a good idea to get in touch with complete strangers (we are you know) about meeting up unless it is in an organised group situation.

Dan

There are adders on the fells in that area of the Lakes so you might be lucky BUT it is getting a bit late in the year now. Spring might  prove a better time. I realise you are tying this in with half-term hols.

The lizards were in our garden when we moved there in 1961 BUT we didn't see them after that. It's a long time ago so hard to remember but possibly we were too noisy and disturbed them (an older couple had the house before us) or maybe in the bitter winter of 62/63 they were wiped out. I tend to think it was just us noisy kids that did it!

If your Dad is up for it he would be the best person to accompany you on your trips and help you look for adders etc.