i’ve succumbed to the allure of twitter to promote Ext Inked (#extInked), all things reptilian and ofc the wonderful sand lizard. please follow me @sandlizarduk !
i will link to blog posts here and try to get a following to increase attention for all the endangered species… look forward to tweeting with you :)
other suggestions for follows are Ultimate Holding Company @Ult_Hold_Co and the wonderful @KateHoulton, who’s doing loads of brilliant work organising the Ext Inked 2011 Tour.
deepest and sincere apologies for my absence and lack of lizard posts!
i’ve been in the midst of many life upheavals including changing jobs, splitting up then getting back together with bf, and culminating in buying a house which will entail moving at some point very soon.
so now it’s Spring again and I must continue with all things lizard.
the most exciting news is that Ext Inked is going to tour the exhibition around the country, including updates from the 100 ambassadors on their progress in protecting their chosen species.
so frantically i must try and look like i am doing something!!
I’m sure the ants deserve too! Great photo ;)
UHC the fab design company behind the Ext Inked project are now selling the original creature drawings of the 100 UK endangered species online for a bargainous £60 each.
needless to say the beautiful Sand Lizard has already sold.
wow, my creature won a prize for it’s sheer beauty at British wildlife photography awards 2010: A male sand lizard taken by Geoff Simpson who won the International Year of Diversity award.
he looks pretty stern!
in other news, i’ve updated Ext Inked with my story so far, they are gathering info about all the tattoed people and their creatures for a a future book? exhibition? website? something new.
i’ve been feeling quite guilty for neglecting the reptiles as have not been able to conduct my NARRS surveys. my only excuse being, a split from my partner means I have no transport (beyond push bike) to get to my designated quadrant. plus I know he would have been way more skilled at spotting these shy creatures.
okay okay, lame excuses i need to get out there myself and just do it.
couldn’t wait to meet my fellow ambassadors all 99 of them!!
well i think about 30 showed up yesterday in Manchester at the Castlefield Art Gallery and we were reminded by Jai Redman that we were all works of art.
i travelled up by train with Hedgehog Hugh for A-star company, bonus it turned out warmer and sunnier up North than darn sarf. Quietly impressed.
heard some wonderful inspiring stories about people’s progress for their species. just wanted more time to talk further. there are plans to make a coffee-table book out of the beautiful portraits taken at the original tattooing, of having another exhibition and of taking the project global to get new ambassadors for species in other countries.
I would be happily imagining a global gathering in costa rica. </sighs> if not for the contribution to climate change, which unfortunately is affecting lizards badly … (if you’re not of the america-trusting mentality try the beeb).
i also met my new fb friend Joe, who helped organise Ext Inked. I met the guy with the Spiny Lobster Tattoo. woot! recorded a video diary entry with Hugh and two other ambassadors, including the Capercaille’s number one fan and another reptile lady with a Turtle (not sure which species). I was looking out for Common Lizard girl, but sadly she did not appear to be present.
you know, it was a good day.
Sand Lizard tattoo being photographed at the Ext Inked reuion © Hugh Warwick
so given the post i have not yet posted yet … i will add for honesty reasons: i did do this at some point in May. i think. shit brain not what it used to be.
ofc saturday nite went for ‘one or two drinks’ (read: it was a nice day and went to the park to meet lovely friends at 5pm, drinking solidly for 6 hours, oops), then had that welcoming early start on sunday am.
firstly it was raining. never good when you have to travel on a motorbike. second we did not know where we were going. left house optimistically at 9am (rain had stopped by then, yay). disappeared through south london, got lost a few times and eventually found nowers wood. apologies all round, the talk had started. no chance to get coffee, aaaaarrrrggggh.
to help me when i do the survey i’m going to note down what i learnt about reptiles, they:
we also learnt what tins were. i will keep this top secret bit of info for future disclosure ;p
was really surprised at how much there is to this reptile spotting lark, and it was lovely to see a whole collection of volunteers willing to sacrifice their sunday to learn about these animals (and to teach).
in other big news: i’m learning to love snakes !!!!!!!!!!!!
