Ringwood & Poulner Toad Patrol start gearing up for coming toad migration season
It is almost that time of year where motorists on Hampshire’s roads are urged to take extra care whilst driving over country roads at night; hibernating toads and frogs will soon wake up and start their annual migration to their spawning ponds and lakes. Local conservationist Teresa Baker of the Ringwood & Poulner Toad Patrol, a group of volunteers who help escort toads safely across the roads of Gorley, said: “Toads are an endangered species and the journey they embark on is often very dangerous. By helping them overcome manmade obstacles such as roads, we are doing our bit in securing the next generation of these highly vulnerable animals.”
The Ringwood & Poulner patrol concentrates on helping toads cross Gorley Road in Poulner to and from the Blashford Lakes. The aim is to have a team of volunteer patrollers on the ground every night from dusk.
Mrs Baker continued: “The toads start crossing when the temperature stays above 5 degrees from dusk and with the winter we’ve been having so far they could start soon. This area is renowned for its toad population but in order to help as many toads cross safely as possible we need more volunteers. If anyone has a couple of hours per week to spare and could help out that would be wonderful, please ring me on 01425 478891. If people are interested in nature conservation and want to make a difference locally, please join the patrol, it is very rewarding indeed.”
Notes
- Ringwood & Poulner Toad Patrol is registered with wildlife charity Froglife. The charity coordinates toad patrolling throughout the UK through a national campaign called ‘Toads on Roads’. Over the coming months, one thousand volunteers will be carrying thousands of toads across the UK’s roads, in a coordinated effort to help save the iconic animal from further declines. For more information please visit www.froglife.org/toads-on-roads/