We were recently contacted by members of our village community who were asking for our help in protecting the toads of the village.  Of course, we were only too pleased to support them.

One of the members of the Woodchester Toad Patrol has kindly written some information about what they are doing and why and we would like to share this with you.

 

Caution: Toads Crossing!

Did you know that Woodchester School is surrounded by ancient Toad migration routes that are still in use today? 

Church Road (in front of school) and Southfield Road (behind the hedge at the bottom of the field) have both been toad crossings for years – in fact toads may have been using these routes for their migration since before the school was even built, back in 1889.  That makes Woodchester School REALLY special!

Toads spend the winter hiding in safe places like under dead wood, leaves or even buried in mud, but when the weather warms up and it is time to lay their eggs (spawn) they migrate back to the pond in which they themselves were born (that’s amazing when you think about it… would you be able to walk, on your own, to the place you were born?) – in fact they tend to use the same spawning grounds for many generations, following the same routes every year  ... Unfortunately, they follow these same routes even if a road has been built across it and many of them get run over and killed. So, in Woodchester (and lots of other places!) small groups of local volunteers come out after dusk on wet, warm evenings to help toads and frogs across the road. You might have seen us with our high viz jackets, buckets, and torches?  So far this year we have moved over 150 toads and frogs off just those two roads to safety.

Toads and frogs are on the move just when visibility for drivers is at its worst because its dark and raining! So, if you are in a car travelling on any of the roads round school (or indeed around Frogmarsh or Convent Lane as well) please help the grown up driving you by reminding them to drive slowly and keeping a close eye out yourself for small crawling or hopping creatures that your adult is too busy driving to see!

Mr and Mrs Toad will thank you!

Woodchester Toad Patrol