Written by Andy Smart, Head of Science & Research
Froglife is delighted to announce that it will be leading three exciting conservation projects as part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, backed by the UK Government’s largest-ever investment in species recovery.
The Government has committed £60 million over the next three years to help protect some of England’s most threatened wildlife. The programme, administered by Natural England, will support 130 projects that restore habitats, improve conditions for wildlife and help threatened species recover.
Of those 130 projects, 10 focus on reptiles and amphibians, recognising the urgent need to protect these often-overlooked animals and the habitats they depend on.
Working alongside leading conservation organisations and universities, Froglife will deliver three projects that will improve our understanding of some of the UK’s most iconic reptile and amphibian species while helping shape their future conservation.
Understanding the loss of common toad breeding ponds
In partnership with Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (ARG UK) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Froglife will investigate how the loss of ponds has affected common toads across the UK.
Using historic survey records and maps dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, the project will compare past and present breeding sites to understand how many ponds have disappeared and what this means for common toad populations today.
The findings will help identify areas where pond restoration could make the greatest difference for one of the UK’s best-loved amphibians.
Protecting Cornwall’s adders
Froglife will also work with Natural England’s National Adder Project, Newcastle University, Bangor University and the Cornish Adder Project to better understand the challenges facing adders in Cornwall.
The project will explore how roads, rivers and fragmented habitats affect adder populations and their ability to move through the landscape. It will also raise awareness of Cornwall’s native snakes, encouraging greater understanding of this often-misunderstood species and highlighting the importance of protecting them as well as their home.
Creating better habitats for grass snakes
In partnership with the University of Reading and other conservation organisations, Froglife will improve habitats for grass snakes at four sites across southern England.
The project will create features that grass snakes need to survive, including basking areas, hibernation sites, ponds and egg-laying locations. These habitats will then be monitored to see how grass snakes use them, helping conservationists understand what makes an ideal home for the UK’s largest native snake.
The knowledge gained will guide future habitat creation and management across the country.
Next steps
Froglife is currently finalising the details of these projects with Natural England and is looking forward to delivering them over the next three years.
The new projects will build on Froglife’s growing programme of scientific research, which already includes PhD partnerships with the University of Reading and Heriot-Watt University investigating reptile and amphibian conservation.
As the projects get underway, Froglife also expects to recruit new staff to help deliver this important work.
Dr Andy Smart, Head of Science and Research at Froglife, said:
“Reptiles and amphibians are some of the UK’s most threatened and least understood animals, yet they play an important role in healthy ecosystems. These projects will help us better understand the challenges they face, improve the habitats they depend on and provide practical conservation solutions that will benefit wildlife for years to come. We’re incredibly grateful to Natural England for supporting this work and look forward to working with our partners to make a real difference for these remarkable species.”