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Ponds
Quick
answer
Keep amphibians out of harms way and release into the pond/garden when work is complete.
Further
information
Ideally put off the work until late autumn as this is when there
are least amphibians in the pond to disturb. If urgent work is
needed during the spring, adult amphibians can be kept out of the
way in a bucket of damp vegetation with a little water (as long
as it's not for more than a day or two) and then released into a
quiet part of the garden or back into the pond afterwards.
If urgent work is needed when there is spawn/tadpoles in the
pond - scoop them out and keep them in a
bucket of pond water while you do the work and then return them
to the pond when you've finished.
If you need to hold tadpoles for any length of time ensure there
is enough food for them and supplement their diet with boiled
lettuce (for young tadpoles) or fish food if necessary.
You might come across adult frogs when doing work on your pond
at other times of year.
These should be moved to another area of the garden that
provides cover from predators and extreme weather (compost heap,
log pile, amongst long vegetation/shrubs). If you're concerned
they might keep coming back to the pond and getting in the way
of the work, you can hold them in a tank/bucket, as long as it's
not for too long, and release them afterwards.
If you're clearing plants of silt from the pond, leave these on
a tarpaulin or plastic sheet by the edge of the pond for a day
or two so that any invertebrates that want to get back in the
water can do so. After, transfer to your compost heap. Try not
to remove too much silt as there may be invertebrates or eggs in
it; plus hibernating frogs will bury down in the layer of silt
over the winter.
There is no organisation that will be able to come and take
spawn, tadpoles or adult amphibians from you.
Just Add Water.
Ponds and the law.
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