Relocating.

Hi I'm after some advice.  The field opposite my house has a healthy population of slow worms & common lizards but unfortunately the person who keeps horses in there lease runs out next month & apparently the site is going to be developed for housing. 
I would like to save as much of the population as possible but need to know how viable this is, especially as it's the hibernation season. 
My idea would be to release just a few of each species in each location, so as to add new blood lines to, but not to overpopulate, the existing populations.

If the plan does have ring of plausibility to it does anyone have any tips on methods of collecting both species.
Many thanks

Many thanks Will. Unfortunately I don't know the developers but will get on to contacting the other people on the list. 

Zider,

If there is to be development on the site such as housing, then inevitably it will require planning permission, so your first contact should be with the Local Planning Authority, i.e. your local Council. Usually they have all planning applications and consents on their website, but if not, just 'phone them up and ask for Development Control to find out the planning status of the land.

I'm not sure if your LPA has a County Ecologist - not all do, and this situation is increasing - but if they do they may not be aware that the site has potential for reptiles, or that it may be developed.

Ideally then they would act upon your information and liaise with the applicant, ensure reptile surveys are done, ensure the presence of reptiles is given material consideration during the planning decision, and ultimately, ensure mitigation (in the wider sense) takes place.

This process may have already begun of course, but as above, it is very unlikely that any site clearance will take place in winter.

If any harm were to come to reptiles during a development, then that is a matter between the contractors and the law, but the LPA also has a duty under the NERC Act to have regard to the purpose of conserving biodiversity. So, if you do see clearance with JCBs etc taking place, and you are aware that the site hasn't been cleared of reptiles (lots of squares of roofing felt, reptile fencing, should be obvious) then there may be an offence under the Wildife and COuntryside Act, so contact the police, and your LPA may have failed in its NERC duty, so contact DEFRA/NE.

If the site is intact come next March/April, and you can get on it, have a look around and see what you can see in the way of herps, then submit your records to your local reords centre, ARG group etc.