Toads on Roads

Local environmentalist George Millins is looking for help in the future with the TOADS ON ROADS scheme.

This year the migration is almost at an end, but George, who is willing to carry on for the time being, is not getting any younger and needs to find someone who will take over the organisation of the scheme in the future.

The scheme was introduced by the Froglife herpetological organisation about twenty years ago. More details about it can be found on their website here

By way of further explanation George writes (with some editing):

‘Amphibians, as the name implies, spend a good deal of their lives in terrestrial habitat, but need water for breeding. After hatching the juveniles in larval form are water dependant until they metamorphose, at this point they will leave the pond and become terrestrial.

  

 On reaching breeding maturity they will instinctively make their way to the pond in which they were born and undertake the same journey each spring, but if a new pond is created on rout this will usually be colonised. Unfortunately with development in recent decades many ponds are now cut off from the essential terrestrial habitat by roads and the massive increase in traffic can result in whole populations being lost to road kill. This inspired Froglife to initiate "THE TOADS ON ROADS" scheme which does involve the rescue of all amphibian species but toads rhymes with roads, so it has a certain ring about it.

  

Those of us who recognise the importance of preserving species and get involved are referred to as toad patrollers (also as barking mad), the essential equipment being a strong constitution, high vis jacket, bucket and a long lasting rechargeable torch or two - in ideal conditions (wet nights at 7deg'C' plus) I have patrolled for four and a half hours.

As you will know our local crossing is the Folly Road Junior School pond. For some time now I have tried to promote the construction of log and brash pile habitats to reduce the number of amphibians crossing the road to find suitable terrestrial habitat. With most gardens now manicured or converted to car parking space, the animals are migrating further to find suitable habitat. This has the effect of prolonging the migration period and, along with unsuitable weather conditions, meant I was required to patrol every night for 7 weeks with the exception of 4or 5 nights. My sincere gratitude to those who helped when they could, and about 60% of drivers who did slow down, one or two stopped having seen a frog in their headlights, However in my view speeding drivers, most of whom drive at us with lights on high beam – demonstrate a very low IQ.’ 

If you can help George to protect our local biodiversity you can contact him on: george@millins.myzen.co.uk