Helping Hands for Cottonstones Toads

Cottonstones Toad Patrol has been reporting figures to the Froglife charity since 2018.

Whether alive or dead, the number of toads moved each year changes, sometimes quite significantly. Cold blooded toads and frogs start to move from their hibernation in the undergrowth when the weather becomes milder and wetter – with little movement if the temperature struggles to get above 8 degrees or the evening is very dry.

The ‘Covid years’ of 2020 and 2021 stand out in the table with high numbers saved and transported to the pond. Partly due to the warm springs in both years, but also the huge reduction in traffic due to movement restrictions. The drop in 2022 figures looks surprising, but the traditional toad season was too cold and roads were heavily salted – quite deadly for amphibians.

It remains to be seen what weather we have over the next couple of months, but in perfect conditions – warm and wet evenings – the toad patrol may transport over 100 toads from the lanes into the pond on Lumb Lane in just a couple of hours.

Sometimes toads can be found on Foxen Lane. They are heading to the mill pond at the bottom of the hill and can be helped by being taken off the road and put onto the banking nearest the pond.

Please contact Charlotte on charlotte@charlottew.co.uk if you would like to join in with the patrolling or indeed, if you have saved a toad as the numbers will all be sent to Froglife at the end of the season!

Follow Froglife on Facebook and X.com to see other patrols out and about.