Froglife’s newsletter - amphibians, reptiles & nature news spring/summer 2017 the volunteering issue Exploring the benefits of volunteering and celebrating our Froglife volunteers

Plus...An interview with the Froglife Trustees : The volunteers of Froglife nature reserves 1 contents froglifers Chair of Trustees: Lin Wenlock ‘from the CEO’: Kathy Wormald on the Patrons: Mike Dilger & Jules Howard latest developments 3. Chief Executive Officer: Kathy Wormald 10 good reasons to volunteer by Jenny Head of Learning & Communications: Jenny Tse-Leon 4. Tse-Leon Head of Conservation: Dr Laurence Jarvis Finance Manager: Anne Davies My experience as a volunteer by Alex Finance & Administration Officer: Marie Homewood Kirby-Lambert 5. Conservation Officer: Liz Morrison Volunteering for amphibian research by Conservation Youth Worker: Louise Smith 6. Dr. Laurence Jarvis Conservation Youth Worker: Gail Lydall Kirklees Project Officer: Rebecca Houlding An interview with key nature reserves Kirklees Project Officer: Gary Wilkinson 7. volunteer Judith Turner Kirklees Sessional Worker: Mike Sims The volunteers of Froglife nature Conservation Youth Worker: Ross Edgar 8. reserves by Liz Morrison Scottish Dragon Finder Project Manager: Dr Victoria Larcombe / Caroline Griffin My Froglife journey from volunteer to 10. employee by Ashlea Jarvis Scottish Dragon Finder Project Officer: James Stead Scottish Dragon Finder Trainee: Alasdair Lemon Volunteering from an employer’s London Dragon Finder Project Manager: Alan Shearman 12. perspective by Dr Victoria Larcombe London Dragon Finder Project Officer: Emily Millhouse River Nene Dragon Finder Project Manager: James McAdie An interview with the Froglife Trustees 14. River Nene Dragon Finder Project Officer: Catherine Duerden Toads are a major asset for your garden, River Nene Trainee: Alex Kirby-Lambert so why not join in the fight to stop Trainee Conservation Youth Worker: Ashlea Jarvis 16. millions being killed on our roads every Ecologist: Katie Rowberry year? by Nick Larkin Froglife Intern: Michael Hartup Eye of newt, and toe of frog, adder’s fork and lizard’s leg: the lore and mythology contact us 18. of amphibians and reptiles by Prof Roger Froglife Downie 1 Loxley, Werrington 19. Why I volunteer... by John Bailey Peterborough PE4 5BW e Phone: 01733 602102 Frogalogue if 20. frogl Email: [email protected] Design by Dr Victoria Larcombe; Illustrations by Sam Taylor Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps www.froglife.org

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Froglife is the campaign title for The Froglife Trust. Registered Charity Number 1093372 (in England & Wales) & SC041854 (in Scotland); Registered Company Number 438714 (in England & Wales). The views expressed in Natterchat are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Froglife. To advertise in or to sponsor an edition of Natterchat please contact Jenny Tse-Leon on [email protected].

Help us find dragons... Grab your phone, get your wellies, and go out dragon hunting this spring to help us map amphibians and reptiles.

The new version of our free Dragon Finder smartphone app will help you to identify all the different amphibians and reptiles you might spot in the UK. You can also use it to record your sightings, adding to our Living Atlas of where the animals can be found.

2 I once started off habitat management and also sites. We get lots of requests to my introduction ensure that a wide range of species help at patrol sites, to give media Lin Wenlock to a Natterchat including amphibians, reptiles, bats, interviews and just general enquiries Mike Dilger & Jules Howard edition by saying butterflies, birds and mammals from concerned members of the Kathy Wormald ‘well spring is are recorded and monitored for public. We are indebted to our Jenny Tse-Leon here again’ and conservation purposes. One of toad patrollers who during the Dr Laurence Jarvis asked a writer our volunteers, and trustee, Frank 2016 season rescued 54,148 toads. Anne Davies friend of mine, Clark has set up cameras across the Our guest writer, Nick Larkin, has Marie Homewood to review it for reserve to record the wildlife using it, featured the Norfolk toad patrols, Liz Morrison me. He instantly and it is fascinating to see how much Toadwatch, in this newsletter. I am Louise Smith burst into laughter saying ‘it is and varied wildlife there is on this sure you will be equally impressed Gail Lydall such a boring, but also the most urban reserve which is surrounded with the number of toads that they Rebecca Houlding common way to introduce a seasonal by housing. Not to mention the are rescuing. Gary Wilkinson newsletter, and quite frankly it is amount of human action, mostly Mike Sims In this newsletter we have brought a non-statement’. Well I don’t like inappropriate, that has also been Ross Edgar together articles written by to think of myself as either boring, recorded. Dr Victoria Larcombe / volunteers who have contributed common or making non-statements Caroline Griffin All of our projects rely heavily on in different ways to nature so I am not going to mention the James Stead volunteers. Our Dragon Finder and conservation. The options are huge season. Actually that same friend of Alasdair Lemon Living Water programmes would and as you will see some want to mine has written the Toads on Roads Alan Shearman not have managed to improve the focus on physical habitat work whilst article for this edition. Have a look at Emily Millhouse habitats of some 544 wildlife sites others have guided young people page 16 and please feel free to laugh James McAdie in 2015/16 without droves of people who have strayed off the track to out loud at any ‘boring, common or Catherine Duerden turning out, from volunteer groups, get back on it with a new interest in non-statements’. Alex Kirby-Lambert friends of and community groups wildlife conservation. At Froglife Ashlea Jarvis This edition is focusing on the to companies sending out teams everyone is welcome to volunteer Katie Rowberry dedication, commitment and hard of their staff. Together they have in whatever way suits them. This Michael Hartup work of an enormous volunteer transformed 511 hectares of land may be hard core conservation but task force that achieves so much for wildlife, and completed 1,530 equally as important is creative contact us for nature conservation in this species surveys. In total during this input such as artwork, photography, Froglife country and abroad. Froglife, like period 3,589 volunteers gave a total literature or film making. So a very 1 Loxley, Werrington every other wildlife conservation of 28,453 hours helping Froglife. It is big thank you to all of our volunteers. Peterborough PE4 5BW charity, would not be able to achieve quite unbelievable. NATURE CONSERVATION NEEDS anywhere near as much as we do YOU NOW and more than it has ever Phone: 01733 602102 The Toads on Roads project always without our volunteers. We have done in the past. Email: [email protected] generates a lot of interest at this volunteers helping us on Hampton time of the year. Not surprising as Kathy Wormald, CEO and Boardwalks Nature Reserves. it is the time that people are most [email protected] www.froglife.org On both reserves the volunteers likely to see the armies of toads assist with a huge amount of crawling along to their breeding 10 good reasons to volunteer

by Jenny Tse-Leon Your hard work can change the just for fun (although life of a young person, improve learning new skills in 1. Makes you feel good a habitat for wildlife or even later life is also linked You get to meet other people, help a charity to achieve more to reducing the risk socialise and try something by supporting them behind the of dementia) there’s different. Not to mention the scenes in the office. always something new to warm fuzzy feeling of making a discover. difference. 3. Learn new skills and knowledge 4. Improve your 2. Help to make the Whether it’s to improve your CV health world a better place and chance of employment or Volunteering can help to improve your health and wellbeing by getting you active and hopefully outside! 5. Get to know your local area better Whether you are new to an area or have lived there for decades it’s amazing what you can discover on your doorstep. 6. Allows you to give back to a cause that ’s important to you You may have grown up exploring the countryside or watching David Attenborough documentaries and want to do your bit to protect the environment or you might have had a tough start in life and want to support other young people finding their way in life. 7. Make real connections Meet other people from all sorts of different backgrounds who share similar interests and values. 8. Get inspired By trying out new things you may get ideas for improving your garden for wildlife, activities to do with friends and family, or places to visit. 9. Have a new outlook By having a greater understanding of the world around you and other people’s lives you might find that you get a whole new perspective on life. 10. It ’s fun! To find out how you can volunteer with Froglife please visit www.froglife.org/ 4 volunteering/ My experience as a volunteer by Alex Kirby-Lambert searches had to be carried out, which into the correlation involved scrabbling around in the between the When I was around 14 or 15 I cold mud on hands and knees looking management of decided to take my lifelong interest for newts, ensuring they weren’t ponds at Hampton Nature Reserve in conservation and the natural world harmed during the restoration. and the impact it had on stonewort a step further by volunteering with populations. This involved trekking Froglife at their Hampton Nature around ponds, taking stonewort Reserve. My first experience samples with a weed rake and then with the volunteer team was on a identifying them under a microscope cold, snowy morning in winter. As back in the lab. The conclusion was I made my way through the slush that pond restoration had a major to come across a small circle of positive impact on both diversity of people surrounding a tree I wasn’t Stoneworts and populations of the initially sure what to think. But I rarer species, particularly Bearded was greeted by the friendly warden Stonewort, which is specially and what followed was a fun and protected under the Wildlife and educational experience that helped Countryside Act. This project was in shape my career path and my plans some ways a turning point for me, for the future. opening my eyes to the scientific side Week after week, rain or shine, of conservation. I turned up on a Thursday My continued partnership with morning to work with a small but Froglife eventually led me into short enthusiastic band of volunteers. In term paid work with them carrying the winter we tackled lots of willow out things like scrub removal, reed clearance, hedge management raking and pond clearance. Nothing and even coppicing in the snow. glamorous, but at the time it was a Bonfires were a particular treat, As well is the wealth of informal huge deal for me, even though on at cooking bacon over open flames, training and practical experience least one occasion it meant working baking potatoes in the embers and I received as a volunteer, Froglife in the rain all day, at one point huddling round to keep warm. also put on more formal training costing me both my phone and iPod. In the summer the volunteers courses. Over the course of my time After that came a bigger, longer term undertook butterfly surveys, and I attended sessions of amphibian contract undertaking newt surveys over the course of these I learnt survey techniques, mammal signs, which was a dream come true for me. to recognise nearly all the British water vole surveying and site This involved being out on Hampton species. Green hairstreaks, with management. Nature Reserve working through to their metallic green wings and the middle of the night, and using At seventeen I decided to go to striped antennae were a favourite high-powered torches to count the Shuttleworth College to do a BTEC of mine. It wasn’t all fun and games newts in a sample of the ponds, Extended Diploma in Countryside however. Prior to pond restoration which was a fun and occasionally Management. Initially I thought this using a digger, destructive frightening experience. I found that would cut into my volunteering I was good at spotting newts and time, but in the end it provided an enjoyed the work immensely. opportunity to further my work with Froglife. As part of the college And finally after 7 years of syllabus, work experience was volunteering I got my first ever required and I decided to full time position with Froglife as a continue my volunteering trainee with the River Nene Dragon work with Froglife to gain Finder project. This has allowed the necessary hours. me to build on the skills I’ve gained, explore new avenues of learning and During this time I given me a chance to interact with undertook my first the public, hopefully passing on my more in depth interest and enthusiasm in wildlife scientific and conservation. project 5 Volunteering for amphibian research

species of Peru” which was published next three years, by Dr. Laurence Jarvis in the journal Tropical Conservation I visited the site every five days to Pursuing a career in amphibian Science. During this period I also collect data and change the camera research is competitive and there volunteered as Managing Editor batteries. In addition to gaining are few employment opportunities, for the British Herpetological experience in conducting research so volunteering is a positive Society’s Herpetological Bulletin in this field of research, I developed way to enhance skills, develop and for the Amphibian Specialist collaborations with Froglife and collaborations and gain practical Group as Recent Publications Editor university partners. I assisted a experience. My career in amphibian for their international publication PhD student, who Silviu was co- research started in Epping Forest, Froglog. Both these opportunities supervising, to collect soil samples Essex, where I completed a PhD enabled me to develop my CV as from Monk’s Cross. This research on the microhabitat requirements well as knowledge and experience in aimed to examine the presence of of the great crested newt. During amphibian research. pollutants in under-road tunnels and the possible impacts on amphibians. this research I gained insights Following my internship with the into the interesting population As a result of furthering my voluntary IUCN, I was able to secure a three activities, I gained more experience and terrestrial ecology of this year research position as a Field species. Although there are various and increased my collaborations. Wildlife Ecotoxicologist based in At the start of 2017, I was able to funding options available for post- Yorkshire, examining the impacts of doctoral research I considered gain employment with Froglife as pesticides on vertebrate populations. the new Head of Conservation. In volunteering as a way to further my During this time I looked for ways experience and develop my CV in this role, as well as managing a of further developing my skills and range of conservation projects, I the field of amphibian ecology and experiences in amphibian research in conservation. An opportunity arose have the opportunity to develop my spare time. A voluntary position further research into the ecology to undertake an unpaid internship became available working with with the International Union for the and conservation of amphibians and Froglife on their research project reptiles. Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) to monitor the effectiveness of Amphibian Specialist Group. I was under-road mitigation tunnels for Overall I have found my experience able to work part-time to enable me amphibians using camera monitoring. of volunteering in amphibian to complete the internship which I met with Dr Silviu Petrovan, research interesting and valuable and involved examining the threat status who was then the Conservation it has enabled me to gain experience of amphibians in Peru. I developed Coordinator, and I agreed that I would and skills which I would not have collaborations with the Amphibian be involved in the practical camera otherwise developed. I have enjoyed Specialist Group as well as partners maintenance, changing batteries and working with a range of people, across Peru. After completion I was downloading data from the Monk’s often from countries worldwide, and able to work with these collaborators Cross development in York. In the I have gained valuable insights into on a research paper titled: “A periods March-May and September- amphibian research. re-assessment of priority amphibian October each year for the

6 An interview with key nature reserves volunteer Judith Turner Judith Turner is a uniquely dedicated volunteer, helping numerous conservation organisations. Not only does Judith participate in regular session in all weathers, but Judith plans and leads sessions and puts in extra days to help out. Here we ask Judith about her volunteering experiences

Judith , how long have Were you aware of what else have you you been volunteering? conservation issues before gained? It must be about six or seven years becoming a volunteer? Volunteering provides me with an now. Yes, but not nearly as much as I interesting hobby which helps me am now. I had heard of things like keep physically fit. It is very useful Who do you volunteer Dutch elm disease and issues with to the environment and provides for? development on habitats. companionship among friendly, like- I volunteer for Froglife, I work minded people. on the Hampton and Boardwalks How has your knowledge Nature reserves. We do all sorts, changed since becoming Describe a typical day surveying: newts, reptiles, butterflies, a volunteer? volunteering. hedgehogs, pond habitats as well Something that really hit me when Once a week in summer the as all sorts of habitat management doing site management was finding volunteer groups at Hampton and work. out that nutrient poor soil is a vital Boardwalks do a butterfly survey of part of rare habitats. the areas (a transect walk). People I volunteer with the Wildlife Trust new to it all soon learn to recognise surveying in summer with the each species. We have a picnic half ecology groups. I survey for bats, way around. nectar sources, meadow wildflowers and water voles. A winter’s day could include cutting down scrub such as hawthorn, I also lead sessions for the willow, bramble that is encroaching Peterborough Conservation where it is not wanted. Then Volunteers. We work on nature sometimes burning it and enjoying reserves throughout Peterborough baked potatoes cooked in the fire. doing practical habitat management from August to April. What are your favourite What would you say to activities, if you had to someone thinking about choose? volunteering? Have I got a favourite? (Laughs). I honestly enjoy everything we do! Previous experience not required! I’ve learnt a lot from more experienced people about plants and What about the weather? So what inspired you to animals, about conservation issues become a volunteer? and about the ways in which sites are We don’t go if it is VERY bad - say heavy rain or blizzards - but a little I have always had an interest in managed. drizzle doesn’t bother us! nature study. It went in to the Also I have taken advantage of background during my work and child wildlife training courses offered by Judith thank you so upbringing years. When I retired Froglife and the Wildlife Trust, free much for sharing your I started doing more walking - my to volunteers. experiences. Now a little interest in wildlife was renewed! bird tells me there is a Froglife have given me training in special event coming up! So you knew a bit about first aid and in working with young wildlife then? people. Over the years I have become Oh yes! For my 80th birthday next month, I will be doing a sponsored What I knew was what I had learnt experienced and confident enough to 10-mile walk to raise money for from books as a child. Enid Blyton’s lead volunteer groups safely. Froglife! So please sponsor me! Nature Lovers book inspired me to So you’ve learned a great study zoology and botany at school. www.everyclick.com/ deal and gained friends: judiths80thtenmilewalk 7 The volunteers of Froglife nature reserves

by Liz Morrison they are such a good bunch. rest of which will be kept for habitat piles. Our nature reserves are managed Looking forward to tomorrow’s Whilst it’s only a sixth of the mass by wardens and a dedicated team session, Judith and I plan where to it’s about a third of the volume with of volunteers. I worked out that for have our last bonfire site of the year. its twisted spikey branches jutting every hour I spent on the Hampton There has been some scrub removal in all directions! We know there may or Boardwalks nature reserves in the woodland to the north of the be a few expletives uttered whilst last year, volunteers contributed Hampton reserve to open up a sunny trying to handle the thorny stuff three! I should give a shout out to glade and let light in to a pond. The tomorrow! But the best bit comes at our volunteer warden and trustee, scrub has been laid in windrows and lunchtime, when hot baked potatoes Frank Clark, at this point, he alone most of it will be retained and part are shared and we all sit down for a does the same number of hours covered with soil to keep it moist. well-earned cup of tea, biscuits and as me surveying terrestrial newts, Sadly this reserve is targeted by toasted marshmallows. The event is monitoring the temperatures and some irresponsible trespassers as much a social gathering as it is a rainfall, mammal activity and keeping and several unauthorised summer conservation activity. an eye on the place. He’s usually on ‘campfires’ have got out of hand site before me too! With spring upon us and summer and burnt extensive areas of scrub- around the corner we look forward to It’s a chilly morning in late February. grassland mosaic. So, every time we butterfly walks starting next month. The wind reminds me winter hasn’t cut vegetation we have to plan how to This time lunch takes the form of a quite left us yet but the warm sun deal with it to protect it from catching picnic on the pond dipping platform and the sight of brilliant yellow fire. in the woods. The canopies of mature coltsfoot flowers are a sure sign oaks providing much needed shade spring is beginning. I am processing from the sun and the aptly named the brash from the very last of the speckled wood butterflies keep us scrub clearance works and I can hear busy counting, even on our break! the birds twittering all around. Judith pointed out that the last leg I am joined in the early afternoon of the butterfly transect walk could by Judith Turner one of our regular really do with a big log somewhere reserve volunteers and she confirms for a mid-way break. She doesn’t it is a great tit we can hear - I learn know it yet, but our arborists Finn something from every volunteer Burning dry bramble and sloe brash and Ross kindly stayed on a bit I work with! We plan the group late last week to help me shift two volunteer session for the following Between us we decide to have a ENORMOUS ash logs to the perfect day. Judith often leads sessions small fire to burn some of the thorny spot as a thank you present for all if I am working elsewhere with dry bramble and sloe brash which her hard work. Even our contractors contractors, but happily tomorrow, doesn’t sit in compact windrows volunteer! I’ll be with the group. We get a few the way willow does. It accounts for regulars who come most weeks in about one sixth of the total mass Contractors David and Chris often between other commitments and of brash we are dealing with, the go the extra mile giving a bit of

8 Boardwalks butterfly volunteers Dead hedging carried our by Reptile survey volunteers youngfact volunteers.

extra time to help us get scrub work Fellow warden Ross undertakes a transect too big to be effectively done and we recently welcomed the wide range of practical conservation undertaken by staff alone. River Nene Dragon Finder team to tasks on our reserves with his young We learn new things from one the Hampton reserve. They hosted volunteers. Just one of his latest another. While Judith helped a corporate volunteer day with projects is constructing a dead me improve my ornithological staff from Volvo who carried out a hedge on the Boardwalks reserve. knowledge, the lovely Trish colossal amount of scrub clearance Young people learn about how dead Thompson helped me to get to work from our ponds this winter. hedges can protect areas of habitat grips with the joys of dragonfly and vulnerable to disturbance whilst Work in kind is a real asset damselfly identification. Photography acting as habitat for amphibians, to Froglife reserves; several is a popular pastime amongst our reptiles, invertebrates, fungi, complementary projects frequently volunteers and where better to take mammals and birds. pool resources to help one another’s photos than a nature reserve with work. The young volunteers working There are many brilliant reasons to abundant wildlife? with the Froglife Active Conservation volunteer, the social aspects just Team (FACT) and the Green one benefit. CV boosting was a big Pathways project often play a key appeal for our sixth form volunteers. Volunteering opportunities are role in reserve work. Only last month The opportunity to learn more about advertised on our events page: our new conservation youth worker, our amazing species and see more www.froglife.org/what-we-do/events/ Gail, brought a team of young people wildlife, such as our native reptiles, to our Thursday scrub clearance is a big attraction and we have some session and they learnt a great deal excellent volunteers that help us about how we manage the site. undertake reptile surveys. A survey

9 My Froglife journey from volunteer to employee

By Ashlea Jarvis Froglife were looking for members by, this included a 6 of the public who were not in week personal project My journey on the path to education, employment or training where I continued with employment with Froglife began for a new project named ‘Wildlife reptile surveys and took my camera way back in 2011. I had been looking Ambassadors’. I remember thinking along to take photos of the species I for work for almost a year at this this is something that is right up my found there. point, and having no luck at all, it was street, so I signed up straight away. starting to get me down. After my time participating in Wildlife My particular group spent most of Ambassadors, I was then encouraged After one of my many visits to the job the time on Hampton Nature Reserve to complete my volunteer training centre in Peterborough, I was making participating in reptile surveys, site so I could further my skills and my way home when I saw a Froglife maintenance and doing some pond volunteer on more Froglife projects. promotional stand on Cathedral dipping. I had a new found sense of I did so, and I continued to volunteer Square. It immediately drew me in happiness and purpose and I looked on Wildlife Ambassadors as well as as I remember there being a toad forward to our weekly sessions. My Wild Life from that moment on. lollipop lady made from papier maché Twelve weeks on that project flew standing proud. I had been all over Peterborough,

10 London and Glasgow. I was involved • Was a finalist and runner up I applied and was called for an in celebration and promotional in the Cambridgeshire Young interview. I managed to get through events such as the RSPB Bird Fair, Person of the Year awards 2013 it with as little nerves as possible The Peterborough Green Festival and and was contacted the exact same • Accumulated over 500 hours of National Science and Engineering day to be told I had the job. I’m not volunteer work with Froglife Week. I had helped to improve more embarrassed to say I became a little green spaces than I care to count bit tearful with the delight, simply and met some great people along the because Froglife has always been way, including the odd celebrity! close to my heart. I found work in early 2012 at a local I have been employed by Froglife garden centre which was fantastic. since June 2016 and I have already I still continued to volunteer for learned so much, from leading Froglife on a regular basis when I had education sessions, to applying for some spare time. funding, conducting presentations and lots, lots more. Some of my proudest achievements I became pregnant with my are creating a huge pond at the daughter in late 2013 so I made the Volunteering can bring so much Green Backyard and turning a piece heart-wrenching decision to stop enrichment to your life as you never of scrubland behind Peterborough volunteering until a time came when know what you will be doing from Museum into a medicinal herb I was able to do so again. When my one day to the next. It helps you to garden. Looking at the before daughter was 2 the opportunity expand your education, skills and and after pictures is always really arose. self-esteem. If you have a passion for inspiring. something, there is always someone I spotted an article featuring Froglife out there who is willing to turn that I also: in my local paper stating that they into something you can use to gain were looking for volunteers for their • Won the Peterborough Telegraph future employment in a career you Leapfrog Schools Project. I jumped Green award for Best Green love. at the chance to become involved Volunteer in 2013 again. I worked on this project for Volunteering has definitely aided me • Won the Better Together and a few months when I came across in finding work as, even though you YMCA Young Volunteer award in an advertisement for a trainee aren’t paid to be a volunteer, it shows 2012 conservation youth worker on the you have commitment and passion Green Pathways project. I thought it in a particular field and personally, I • Was a finalist in the Access to Nature Volunteer awards 2013 couldn’t hurt to at least try. think that shines through on paper more than anything.

11 Volunteering from an employer’s perspective

by Dr Victoria Larcombe Absolutely! Getting jobs in individual is A survey carried out by Volunteer the sector is becoming very serious about Scotland has shown that volunteering competitive so we are always an interest amongst young people has increased looking for things which show or potential from 33% in 2009 to 52% in 2016. people’s commitment to the career direction . Employability is often cited as a sector and experience levels University of Glasgow reason for encouraging people, - volunteering experience is particularly young people, to It depends what volunteering a great way to show these – volunteer but what impact does they have done and how volunteering really have on your it ’s fairly rare for us to even much , but generally yes it chances of getting a job? Froglife look at applications from new will give them an advantage. sent out a survey to organisations applicants who have no past in Scotland to see how they view Sometimes people put down a experience of volunteering in voluntary experience when recruiting lot of different volunteer roles the sector. TCV new staff. and it makes you wonder how Does volunteering experience I would say that we definitely they can manage to do so much make an applicant stand out from look for volunteering volunteering and this will the crowd? experience. A lot of then make you wonder if they applicants have very similar are a committed volunteer or From my perspective qualifications and skills simply dipping in and out volunteering is a very positive in things like bumblebee of various options. The latter aspect of someone’s CV helping identification and surveying can reflect on the person and gain experience and skills are strengthened through could indicate that they will that could be desirable or experience. Quite a few of our treat work in the same way. even essential for a role. RSPB current staff members actually In some instances it will be Yes, it certainly does. For started out as volunteers best if someone can show a me, when looking at an for the Trust. Volunteering commitment to volunteering application , the longer a awards such as Duke of for one organisation rather person has volunteered and if Edinburgh can also indicate than a spread. Froglife it has been in the UK (not just transferable skills such as Can volunteering ever damage 2 weeks helping at a turtle team work and leadership your credibility as an applicant? sanctuary) and with more which are desirable. Bumblebee I would say no, unless you than one organisation , really Conservation Trust are applying to the person helps them stand out. Buglife It certainly helps to show you are volunteering for and commitment, and is a tangible you haven’t worked as hard demonstration that an as you thought and they use this to judge your application . Always tell the truth and volunteering is an

12 Photo: Sue North opportunity to learn and show Possibly if you have done a people how amazing you really lot of volunteering but have are. Buglife little paid work experience, it could raise questions No, I don’t think so at all as to why the person - sometimes if people have has been unable to get a volunteered in one role for permanent position after a very long time, and don’t gaining experience through appear to have progressed it volunteering. However, can raise a questions as to generally I don’t think it will Froglife, most recently why. So I’d advise people often damage credibility. Alex and Ashlea have been volunteering (at least if they Froglife employed as former volunteers. are doing it with the aim of We have also chosen trustees getting a job in the sector) to Have you ever made the decision to employ somebody because of on the basis that they have make sure they are continuing their volunteering experience? been volunteers for Froglife i .e. to progress, to take on more Frank Clark. Froglife responsibility in their Yes, especially when Do you actively look for volunteering volunteering and getting a advertising for TCV Natural experience when reviewing candidate TCV variety of experiences. trainees, their volunteer applications? experience shows a lot about No - as an employer I have Buglife themselves and how willing Yes we do. a sense of how very tough they are to work hard and the job market is, and there Not specifically - but it is learn . Buglife is no way that volunteering often a key feature which could be damaging to anyone’s Yes - definitely - it can be provides the evidence credibility in my view. the difference between two of the persons skills and TCV University of Glasgow closely matched candidates, commitment. or key for someone No, not in academic roles. new to the sector But it does play a significant showing they have affirmatory role in decision the enthusiasm, University of Glasgow Contributors: making. commitment and Jackie Brown Not necessarily, it depends experience required. Volunteering Development TCV on how much paid for work Officer, RSPB experience they have. If they No, but it is Suzanne Burgess have a lot of work experience Conservation Officer a compelling I may not be worried about (Scotland), Buglife confirmation of whether they volunteer or

Dominic Hall an applicant ’s not, but if they do not have Operations Leader - Communities seriousness. Words a lot of work experience then and Biodiversity, TCV are easy, actions the volunteer experience will speak over them! Dawn Ewing certainly be an important University of Project Development factor. Froglife Manager, Bumblebee Glasgow Conservation Trust Yes, we have Professor Daniel Haydon employed a few Director of Institute/ people who have Professor of Population Ecology and Epidemiology, volunteered for University of Glasgow froglife Photo: Sue North Kathy Wormald CEO, Froglife 13 An interview with The Froglife Trustees

Inez Smith Prof Roger Frank Clark Richard Lin Wenlock Downie Donoyou (Chair) (Vice-Chair)

Why did you join haven’t regretted. Frank Knowledge and understanding of the community and voluntary I joined Froglife because firstly, it the Froglife board of sector; staff and volunteer is very professionally run and this management; participation of trustees? enables it to do great work. Joining children and young people; I met the founder of Froglife when a winning team sounds easy, but safeguarding; leadership. Inez I was trying to poach ideas from a running small charities is very course he was running, and he later hard work and if my experience I spent my working life in approached me to hop from the can help the staff, I am pleased to engineering or sales and I like to Board of Essex Wildlife Trust to join contribute. Richard think that this business experience Froglife. Lin helps with the overview of How long have you been Froglife’s work and aims. Frank When Froglife developed a project a trustee for Froglife? in Scotland for the first time, I got I have worked for public, private Oh dear such a long time - about 14 involved as a local contact for the and voluntary sectors and have years. Lin project team, so it seemed a natural been CEO of a charitable trust. move to become a trustee when Since 2010; vice-chair since 2013. I hope this experience brings I was invited. My herpetological Roger some understanding of the inter- research has mainly been abroad, Cant remember - a long time! Inez relationship of these sectors and but in recent years, I have done their respective commercial / some more local work, and that I have now been a trustee for over financial imperatives. Richard also made joining the Froglife 7 years. Frank What is the best thing trustees a logical step. Roger Must be 3 years now! Richard about being a trustee? Having worked for Froglife and It is very fulfilling to see how hard been a long standing conservation What expertise do you the staff work and how dedicated volunteer this seemed like the bring to the board? they are, and I am so proud of next step to influence the strategic On the ground knowledge of them all for the success they have direction of the organisation and Amphibians and Reptiles, and have achieved. Lin ensure that it continues to grow held a Natural England licence for and develop. Inez GCNs for even longer than I have I have found it rewarding to be able been on the Board of Froglife. Lin to contribute to the running of an I found that I had a keen and NGO that is having such a positive developing interest in nature I’m an academic zoologist, with impact on wildlife conservation and conservation after moving to live special interest in amphibians and education, and one, particularly, in a mountain village in Italy when reptiles, so I bring that expertise. I which works so much with I first retired. I continued this also have considerable experience people, often outside the usual interest when I moved to Hampton as an NGO trustee/board member ‘target groups’ for conservation (Peterborough) and became a e.g. secretary to the Board of work. In particular, interacting volunteer with Froglife. When Friends of the Earth Scotland for with Froglife’s dedicated and the opportunity arose to join the some years; president of Glasgow enthusiastic staff has been a very trustees I accepted. Something I Natural History Society. Roger 14 positive experience. Roger time-demanding - monthly public have been involved in conservation, meetings; quarterly committee going back before I was on any The staff and volunteers, their meetings; a trust; liaison with kindred Trustee Boards, but involved in incredible commitment to their organisations in Glasgow etc. Roger volunteering, there is still so much The Froglife Trustees species, the organisation and each more for me to learn! Lin other. Inez Not currently. I have previously been a secondary school governor, The trustees are a diverse bunch The best part of being a trustee for a welfare officer for a gymnastics coming from across the UK and I me has been seeing the growth of club, a special constable and an army have it easy being Peterborough Froglife’s profile in the scientific cadet instructor. Inez based. Inez world. Frank I am also a volunteer Custody Volunteering can lead in all sorts of As a trustee I feel I am far more than Visitor in Peterborough. This surprising directions. I now spend a token Board member…the most involves checking on the well-being a considerable amount of my time important thing is that trustees and of detainees in custody at the local involved with photographic projects staff work well together and whilst police station. Frank with time lapse and p.i.r. (trail cams) the staff do the great majority of the cameras. Something that I had never work, as a trustee, I feel I have some I am a trustee of 2 other been involved in previously. Frank influence in guiding as needed. The organisations and also am active in worst thing? Too many crisps and practical environmental and fund chocolate biscuits at board meetings! raising work as a parish councillor. Richard I also teach historic building skills, particularly drystone walling, to Do you volunteer for any young people (NEETS) and adults. In other organisation(s)? addition to being important historic I am Vice Chair of Essex Wildlife and landscape features, ancient Trust, which involves very much the walls make wonderful habitats and same as on the Froglife Board. Lin hibernation sites for newts, lizards, I’m a member of several, but toads, frogs and snakes! Richard my practical roles are with the Is there anything else you local Glasgow FOE group, which would like to add? I chair monthly, and GNHS which I am amazed that after all the years I I also chair; this latter is quite

Coming Soon! Toad Art Colouring Book

This delightfully educational, beautifully drawn toad colouring book is being created by Froglife with artwork submitted by their members of the public as part of a Toad Art competition. The book will be published to commemorate Froglife’s Year of the Toad which aims to raise awareness of common toad declines in the UK and raise funds to carry out further research into the causes of these declines and deliver practical conservation projects on the ground to help protect important toad sites. Please keep an eye on our Year of the Toad webpage for news of its publication http://bit.ly/YearoftheToad 15 natterchat feature Photo: Mihai Leu

Toads are a major asset for your garden,

so why not join in the f ight to stop millions being killed on our roads every year? Nick Larkin , freelance journalist, explains how

What on earth motivates thousands pronounced in the South East, which across the road or to the pond where of people from all walks of life across is also the region with the highest they want to go. John commented the country to don a hi-vis jacket, volume of traffic. “the problem is getting far worse. leave their warm homes and, armed Toads are losing their habitats as so “There is a lot stacked against them”, only with a torch, bucket and maybe many sites are being built on. Toads said John Heaser, who has been a whistle to alert others, spend dark, need to live somewhere frost-free, on toad patrol since 2004. “I was cold evenings scouring their local ideally subterranean. The problem is appalled to see possibly more than roads? that a lot of gardens are being tidied 200 dead frogs and toads on the up, so again this reduces the places They are on toad patrol, which may road one night and felt I had to do for toads to live.” sound vaguely ridiculous, but is something.” anything but. Indeed it’s vital work Cynics can argue that toads don’t John works with Toadwatch in to save as many of these fascinating help themselves much. They Norfolk, one of Britain’s most animals as possible from being migrate to their breeding ponds successful operations to save the killed or mutilated on our roads, from normally February to April, creatures from being killed by traffic. particularly from around February depending on the temperature. They Around 70 people are involved in the to April, when they head en-masse normally move from dusk (i.e. around patrols which John reckons saves to ponds to breed. Many gardeners rush hour) and need the temperature half or more of the country’s toads have much to thank toads for. Toads to be above five degrees centigrade. each year. eat slugs, spiders and other insects, The weather needs to be wet or playing a vital part in Britain’s This may seem unbelievable, but humid. ecological environment. in 2016, Toadwatch saved 22,256 What is worse, John reveals, is toads, just in Norfolk. Sadly, 1,704 But 2017, to put it bluntly, is not that male toads genuinely do wait were known to have been killed. In a good time to be a toad. Their on the road surfaces to pick up a Selbrigg, a village few have heard decline is astonishing. A study by female, which, just as is the case with of, the figure saved was 5,492. amphibian and reptile conservation humans, is deadly. They also tend to In addition, 1,336 frogs and 256 charity Froglife, working with the move in droves, making a journey of common newts also got in on the act. University of Zurich, has shown up to a mile and half to their pond. that the common toad population of All this merely down to people with They are not happy with any watery the UK has fallen by 68% over the those buckets and torches who scoop destination - it needs to be the pond last 30 years. The decline is more up the amphibians, taking them in which they were born. Toad

16 Toads on Roads

patrollers tend to know where these Froglife coordinates these efforts cash strapped to do this. are, and when toads are most likely across the country, supporting Froglife has a Year of the Toad to try to get to them. people wishing to set up patrols Campaign a www.froglife.org/ and most importantly holding the People of all ages and backgrounds yearofthetoad/ and there are Department for Transport database are involved. They tend to not plenty of ways in which you can of amphibian migratory crossings. merely be hardcore conservationists get involved. CEO Kathy Wormald Registering a crossing with Froglife - John works in IT. “It’s people said: “Our work with toad patrols (crossing can only be registered who are united in not wanting to is one of our most important roles if there are more than 100 toads see these animals killed in huge and we are proud to co-ordinate crossing), can mean that local numbers” he said. “Things can only the efforts nationally which save authorities will put up toad crossing get worse, even the change in cars is many thousands of these wonderful warning signs during the migration contributing by giving their occupants animals.” period, unfortunately nowadays most more insulation from the outside local authorities say that they are too environment” John added.

Some facts and how you can help • There are no official figures of the number of toads killed on British roads annually - it is quoted as 20 tonnes. • Toads began to evolve 20 million years ago, they can live for 20 years or more and do not breed until their fourth season. • You can provide a toad habitat in your garden. Ideally a subterranean environment of bricks and branches covered by old carpets or similar. You will probably find that you attract a lot of other wildlife as well, including frogs and newts. • Richmond Council is the only known authority to close roads at times of toad migrations. Warning triangles featuring toads are also put up. • If you live in Norfolk and would like to get involved or learn about a toad crossing, Toadwatch can be contacted via www.toadwatch.org • You can find your nearest toad crossing by visiting Froglife’s website www.froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads • Froglife’s Toads on Roads work is unfunded, you can help by making a donation www.froglife.org/what-you-can-do/donate Toads on Roads statistics 2016

Number of toads killed: 4,914 Toad sites submitting data: 125 Number of toads saved: 54,148

17 Photo: Mihai Leu 17 Eye of newt, and toe of frog, adder ’s fork and lizard’s leg: the lore and mythology of amphibians and reptiles Marty Crump, University of Chicago Press (2015). 320 pp. ISBN 13:978-0-221-11600-6 (hardback, also available as an e-book). $ US 35.00.

by Prof Roger Downie discovered real pharmacological adhesive pads, activity, as in snake venom and frog so it is hard The distinguished American skin), from shamanistic rituals where to understand herpetologist Martha Crump a snake or frog is used in some way how such a (named Marty here for a more to banish an evil spirit. story originated. Crump general readership) has written this discusses the issues related to beautiful book in collaboration with The final chapter relates combatting harmful traditional photographer Dante Fenolio who conservation to folk beliefs. Where beliefs, and reports an encouraging is credited for the large number of a species of snake is traditionally educational project from Portugal stunning plates. The high production revered, this helps to protect it; which altered perceptions; very much standard has been made possible but in some countries, traditional in line with Froglife’s aims. through many donations from organisations and individuals, Crump has been interested in contributing to the very reptile and amphibian folklore reasonable cover price. since her student days in the 1960’s and this book represents The book’s fourteen chapters a selection from 50 years focus on particular themes of accumulated research. It such as creation myths, myths is not the first book to have related to weather, religion and approached the subject: Robert sex (the number of snake and de Graff’s similarly beautiful frog parts reputed to enhance ‘Book of the toad’ (1991) does virility is amazing). There are a similar job on a single group, also chapters on the uses but with more emphasis on people make of amphibians and art and literature, reflecting reptiles: food, medicine, hunting, his position as a Professor of and culture. Crump relates Literature. One surprise for me the worldwide occurrence of in Crump’s book is the relative myths and folk beliefs relating lack of documentation; it is to amphibians and reptiles to common these days in semi- aspects of their biology: their popular science and history sudden appearance after rain, books for superscript numbers the longevity of some, the ability in the text to refer to extensive to regenerate lost and damaged source notes at the end, aimed parts, the transformation at readers who wish to follow from tadpole to adult in frogs, the taboos and totems are in decline up. Although there is a substantial lethality of some…Some of the and any protection is disappearing. reference list, much of the book religious practices she describes Unfortunately, in many traditional is short on documentation. For a are quite bizarre: some Pentecostal societies, too many species are future edition, perhaps? I would also churches in southern USA still regarded negatively, and Crump gives hope that the author re-thinks some practice a snake-handling ritual many examples. My own experience colloquialisms, such as crocodiles where venomous snakes (mainly is of several species of lizard in getting ‘a bum rap’, or snake venom copperheads and rattlesnakes) are Trinidad, collectively known locally giving ‘more bang for the buck’. handed around the congregation as as ‘twenty four hour lizards’; the an act of faith. She also discusses All in all, I thoroughly recommend belief is that the lizard can jump on the roles of amphibians and reptiles this wonderfully illustrated book for to people, sticking irremovably for in traditional medicine, distinguishing its mine of fascinating and thought- twenty four hours, after which the between folk medicine (where, in provoking information. victim dies . These lizards are not some cases, modern research has toxic in any way, nor do they possess 18 Photo: Ron McGill Why I volunteer... by John Bailey many times since. We planted more is the young veg and dug more ponds. people who My Name is John Bailey and I get up early volunteer for Froglife, and have for Then James McAdie takes over who on a Saturday about 12 years, working with young is more into building so we started morning and offenders. I was asked to tell you why the large shed, built from scratch spend three hours I volunteer and what I do. with no plans. At the same time a with us in all weathers. This tests the school wanted their nature garden Why? Is a good question because I young offenders - some work hard, sorting out, just a small job, a new want to give something back to the asking ‘What's a spade for?’ but they pond to dig straight on top of builders community and to do some good. get stuck in. Even if they don't admit rubble, a bridge to move, an old Really? Is that the real answer or it some even enjoy it. pond to re shape, dipping platform to does it look good on a CV or will it get build, rockery and waterfall, pumps Back to why again. I work during the me a job? I think there is more to it and filter to install. Not forgetting a week in a shop, A lad comes to my than that. blackboard, archway, new plants and till and says, do you still work with I started at Froglife with Inez Smith a small shed. Froglife? We stood and talked and at Dogsthorpe allotment, an empty then he left to go to college. While Ross Edgar takes over, now we allotment with one shed. Then walking home one day a young lad work more on the Nature Reserves I helped with digging ponds and tugged on my arm and said I know and help with new ponds, clearing planting a hedge. you from the allotment, we had a and putting in signs, but all the time chat then he turned to his friend and Andy Mortimore took over the find new things to look at such as said, he's a nice bloke, met him doing position from Inez and we planted adders, newts, grass snakes, deer my community service. Now that’s new beds for veg and built a path and kingfishers, all of which I’d never why I volunteer at Froglife. round the pond which we have done seen before. Of course the best thing

Support Froglife by Walking 4 Wildlife

www.walking4wildlife.com/schools-walk On May 19th 2017, a truly unique event will be taking place all across the UK. Hundreds of thousands of primary school children will be taking part in an attempt to break a Guinness™ World Record. On that day, primary schools up and down the country will be joining together to try and break the world record for a mass sponsored walk. (The current world record is 231,635 people all walking at the same time!) As well as attempting to break the world record, schools will also be raising money for wildlife protection and conservation. Unlike other organised sponsored walks however, you choose where to walk and more importantly where the money goes. You can raise money for any wildlife charity, big or small. There is no set distance or pace, you can walk for 30 mins or 3 hrs, it’s up to you. The only criteria we set is that everyone will need to be walking at 2.15pm on the 19th May, to be included in our Guinness World Record™ attempt.

19 To order visit www.froglife.org/shop Froglife is frogalogue or call 01733 602102 supported by

We have a range of cards, books and gifts for all occasions in the online BBC Children in Need ~ Cambridge Froglife shop at www.froglife.org/shop. All funds raised support our Community Foundation ~ Biffa conservation and education work. Award ~ The Bromley Trust ~ City Bridge Trust ~ The Ernest Cook Trust ~ Cory Environmental Trust ~Esmee Fairbairn ~ John Ellerman Foundation ~ Garfield Weston ~ The Heritage Lottery Fund ~ The Woodland Trust ~ Clarke Bradbury Trust ~ GrantScape ~ Natural England ~ The Robertson Trust ~ SNH ~ The Gannochy Trust ~ The MacRobert Trust ~ The Mackintosh Foundation ~ SITA Trust ~ People’s Trust for Endangered Species ~ Western Riverside Environmental Fund ~ Peterborough City Council ~ Sheffield City Council ~ 8.00 £ Towcester Town Council ~ Enfield Borough Council ~ Bromley Dora Designs. Please see shop for details. Prices vary and start at Friendship: Not sure what to buy Borough Council ~ Richmond someone? Why not give a Froglife Upon Thames Borough Council ~ Lambeth Borough Council ~ Ever wondered what could be hiding Friendship Ealing Borough Council ~ Tower in your garden? Why not pick up this as a gift, and Hamlets Borough Council ~ useful FSC information guide for £3.00 your friend Camden Borough Council ~ Brent will receive Borough Council ~ Haringey a pack of Borough Council ~ Kensington goodies. & Chelsea Borough Council ~ £18.00 Waitrose ~ Angus Environmental Trust ~ Central Scotland Forest Trust ~ Falkirk Environment Trust ~ Glasgow Nature History Society ~ Score Environment ~ SSE ~ The Perfect West Dunbartonshire Council Pond ~Aberdeen Council ~ Action reduced to Earth ~ Clackmannshire & Stirling £4.95 Environment Trust ~ East Ayrshire Leisure ~ Tesco Bags of Help

Corporate Supporters: CJ Wildlife ~ Better Together ~ Birdsong ~ CSS Copiers ~ Environmentjob.co.uk ~ Mears ~ Skanska ~ Network Rail ~ Volvo ~ Carillion ~ Gordon Lowe

Trustees: Lin Wenlock (Chair), Roger Downie (Vice Chair), Frank Clark, Philip Wheeler, Gordon MacLennan, What would you like to see in our Richard Donoyou, Inez Smith and online shop? We are always looking Silviu Petrovan. for new ideas for our online shop and we would like to gather some Volunteers: input from our supporters and And finally, but certainly not volunteers. If you have any ideas least, a big thank you to all of our please email volunteers especially all those toad [email protected] patrollers who did such a terrific job again this year. 20