As the BRARG were re-forming a new national survey was being launched called the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) run by the Herpetological Conservation Trust.

The BRARG were asked to take part in NARRS and the trial of an additional scheme run as part of a research project by the University of Kent. This was a test of the effectiveness of the national recording scheme (NARRS) in detecting amphibian and reptile presence. In 2007 the group concentrated on the amphibian part of NARRS.The project followed the same formula as the national survey but involved five visits to the chosen pond instead of three visits. We also had to use all four different methods of detecting amphibian presence: bottle trapping, torching, netting and searching by hand. Several sites in Brecknock were chosen including the eight ponds situated on Mynydd Illtyd common near Brecon.

Each pond had to be surveyed by torch at night time and also early the next morning as the bottle traps set up the night before had to be emptied. This resulted in several blurry eyed staff and volunteers! The results were worth all the effort though we found four new sites for great crested newt and nearly every site we looked at contained all five species of amphibian. A new site for water shrew was also found. This survey was considered a great success and will be repeated again in 2008, anyone interested in taking part in this survey should contact Brecknock Wildlife Trust.