Snakes in the Heather
The Smooth Snake is the UK’s rarest reptile but very little is known about its distribution and ecology. This project, led by Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, and which R4C has been engaged to evaluate, is looking, through Citizen Science, volunteering and education, to engage communities in collecting data and taking more responsibility for Smooth Snake habitats. The project team and their partners have very much been involved in the development of the Evaluation Framework which identified the range of data required for the evaluation and set out the plans for data collection. The interim evaluation provided the team with the opportunity, through data review and stakeholder interviews, to reflect on progress and adjust delivery plans where targets were not being met. The final evaluation, which will take place in autumn 2023, will look in depth at project impact and legacy.