The Wildlife & Roads Issue

natterchatFroglife’s newsletter - amphibians, reptiles & nature news autumn/winter 2012 £2.50

the wildlife & roads issue

amphibians, reptiles & roads

research & policy

toads on roads 2012

plus... garden tips : Hugh Warwick : Mike Dilger : John Shuttleworth : John Lister Kaye : book offers contents froglifers project profile: James McAdie fills us Chair of Trustees: Lin Wenlock 4. in on Froglife’s Active Conservation Team Patron: Mike Dilger Chief Executive Officer: Kathy Wormald the spotter: Hugh Warwick finds the Deputy Chief Executive Officer: Samantha Taylor 5. beauty in toads and adders, with a Conservation Coordinator: Dr Silviu Petrovan chance to win his latest book Conservation Coordinator, Scotland: Robert Williams what I’m up to: Froglife supporter Finance & Administration Officer: Melanie Hamlett 6. Annemarie shows us around her garden Conservation Officer: Paul Furnborough Conservation Youth Worker: James McAdie conservation feature: Dr Silviu Petrovan Conservation Youth Worker: Rebecca Neal 8. discusses wildlife and road ecology Living Water Field Worker: Iain Maclean Living Water Field Worker: James Stead research round up: Paul Furnborough Natural Talent Apprentice: Faith Hillier looks into studies of toads on roads 10. Living Water Field Worker: Alex Draper policy page: Rob Williams sums up Public Engagement Officer: Sivi Sivanesan 11. policies relating to wildlife and roads My Wild Life Project Officer: Jodie Coomber Wildlife Ambassadors Project Officer: Laura Brady toad talk: Sivi Sivanesan shares the latest London Dragon Finder Habitats Officer: Dr Victoria Ogilvy 12. news from our Toads on Roads project Community Engagement Officer: Vanessa Barber Project Admin Officer: Laura Partridge out and about: training, volunteering Scottish Dragon Finder 14. opportunities and events with Froglife Development Officer: Anna Muir

froglifer facts: Froglife trustee Professor 15. Roger Downie with a book review and competition

frogalogue: special ideas for Christmas 16. that support amphibians and reptiles contact us Froglife 2A Flag Business Exchange, Vicarage Farmgl Road,ife fe Fengate,fro Peterborough PE1 5TX gli Phone: 01733 558844

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www.froglife.orgr facebook.com/froglife twitter.com/frogliferso ife fgrogl

Froglife is the campaign title for The Froglife Trust. Registered Charity Number 1093372 (in England & Wales) & SC041854 (ine Scotland); Registered Company Number 438714 (in England & Wales). The views expressed in Natterchat are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Froglife.Ltd. To sponsor Natterchat please contact Samantha Taylor on [email protected].

Cover photo: Dave Kilbey - www.davekilbeyphotography.co.uk f

This edition of Natterchat has been sponsored by Froglife Ltd, a social r

enterprise that supports Froglife’s charitable work. o

Froglife Ltd is an experienced consultancy offering a range of services including: g

Ecological surveys for amphibians and reptiles and other species l Pond creation and restoration i Species and habitat training f e Habitat management plans and improvement works Ltd.

or get in touch with Kathy to discuss your requirements on 01733 558844. You can find out more at www.froglifeltd.co.uk project at the London Annemarie Hammond’s our Dragons Appeal. from the CEO Wetlands Centre, with garden in Edinburgh Every penny goes a Sir John Lister Kaye as a featured on page 6, and long way. Lin Wenlock guest speaker at a Scottish I was utterly enthralled Mike Dilger Dragon Finder event at the to see how the frogs Once again, thank Kathy Wormald Glasgow Science Centre. have made this garden you to everyone Samantha Taylor More information about their own. The Toad who has helped us Dr Silviu Petrovan these and many other Patrollers on page 12, like to leap forward for Froglife events can be Annemarie, go to extreme amphibians and reptiles Robert Williams found on page 14. lengths to provide a safe by supporting our work Melanie Hamlett place for our amphibians, whether financially, Paul Furnborough We have some great and once again this year through volunteering James McAdie Welcome to our slightly information from Dr numerous people ventured or in any other form. I Rebecca Neal longer Autumn/Winter Silviu Petrovan, Paul out on dark nights to hope you enjoy reading Iain Maclean edition of Natterchat. We Furnborough and Rob rescue these animals. this newsletter, and if so, why not pass it on James Stead decided to expand the Williams linked to this We are pleased to to a friend, or leave it Faith Hillier newsletter to cover a wider edition’s Wildlife and range of amphibian and report that we have had in your doctor’s/vets Alex Draper Roads theme. Between reptile related issues - I am them they cover why a successful year of surgery, for others to Sivi Sivanesan sure that there is something amphibians and other fundraising. As highlighted enjoy? Jodie Coomber for everyone here. animals cross roads, on page 5, most of our Laura Brady what mitigation can help, grants cover 80-90% of Kathy Wormald, CEO Dr Victoria Ogilvy As mentioned below, our scientific research and the the costs of our work, and kathy.wormald@ Vanessa Barber Dragon Finder projects are complexities of the various without the other funding froglife.org Laura Partridge making great progress. I am legislation and policies that in place we are often very pleased to report that should be protecting our unable to access these Anna Muir Hugh Warwick, featured on species. grants. We are therefore page 5, will be launching asking those who can help the London Dragon Finder I once paid a visit to to please support our Save contact us Froglife froglife news : autumn / winter 2012 2A Flag Business Exchange, Vicarage Farm Road, 304 volunteers supported our work, Lottery Fund, will work in all Fengate, Peterborough PE1 5TX Updates from a not including the hard working Toad Boroughs across the city, improving Phone: 01733 558844 Great Year Patrol volunteers who undertook a habitats, training people to survey for Email: [email protected] staggering 1,085 nights of Toad reptiles and amphibians and mapping Patrolling where the animals can be found. The April 2011 to March 2012 proved to be 775 people directly benefitted from project will create an online Living www.froglife.org a busy year for Froglife, and we were our educational activities, with many Atlas of data, including memories amazed when we added up all the more indirect beneficiaries through about different sites in London. Fun things we got up to! Our 171 talks, training sessions and other learning events are also planned sincere thanks go out to everyone who events. including Swimming with Dragons supported, took part in or donated family days in swimming pools. towards our work. Here is a short Half way through the current financial To find out more about the London summary of some of our year, we have already achieved many project, please contact achievements over that period from things and have big plans for the next [email protected] our annual review: few months. We hope that you will continue to support our work. There We are also lucky enough to have 61 new ponds were created is information on our Save Our a development grant for Scottish 46 ponds were restored Dragons Appeal on page 14. Dragon Finder from HLF. Anna Muir 32 terrestrial habitats were improved will be working on the development 44 wildlife surveys were undertaken phase - meeting potential partners, 164 hours of surveying in Scotland Dragon Finder finding venues and writing the alone led to 432 new records application for the main project. The takes Wing aim is to work across the whole of mainland Scotland, gathering Our exciting new project inspiring important records from often people to take part in action for unexplored areas to add to the Living reptiles and amphibians started in Atlas. If you would like to find out October 2012 with four new staff more about the Scottish project, members. The London Dragon Finder please contact project, funded by the Heritage [email protected] Vicky Ogilvy 3 f r active o

project g conservation

i team

e ! profile FACT

A new feature that zooms in on one of Froglife’s conservation and learning projects around the UK. This time, James McAdie fills you in on our Peterborough-based project introducing young offenders to conservation action.

Froglife Project: FACT community through voluntarily), the feedback ambitions. This has been Froglife’s Active sessions focussed on from young offenders’ beneficial to several that Conservation Team conservation. case managers, the have gone on to college visible work that has been courses. Staff and volunteers The results so far: We completed in community involved: James have worked with 690 spaces and the Funded by: Peterborough McAdie,Reserve Project Notebook Officer young people since 2006, conservation skills and Youth Offending Service supported by delivering 1,290 hours of understanding learnt by Better Together reparation in 2012 alone. the young people. How Froglife Supporters volunteers through the The sessions are varied Peterborough YOS also can get involved: The YMCA. and can include pond attained a glowing Ofsted FACT project doesn’t really creation & report for its work, with a have a budget for “How long has the management, carpentry, low rate of reoffending. resources, so we have project been running: artwork, wildlife to make or recycle a lot. Since 2006. gardening, habitat Any highlights: Froglife supporters could creation and much more. Sessions impact on the help by sending spare The aims, objectives, We have created secret young people in a number vegetable or wild flower outputs and out- gardens and wildlife areas of positive ways; quite of- seeds, gardening tools, or comes: Froglife at schools, built a timber ten it is the first time that donations. You can also provides sessions for outdoor classroom at the they have used tools, register with Better young people between 10 Froglife allotment, created a pond or worked Together in Peterborough and 18. These are created a wildlife corridor, in a team towards a to become a volunteer and similar to community installed ponds at common objective. I often help out on the project.” payback, in reparation community gardens and see young people take for low level crime. improved a number of ownership of an area they For more information: Young offenders are other habitats. The have been working on. [email protected] given a set number of project can be assessed Working closely alongside hours to complete, and on the positive feedback the young people gives we play a part in from the young people me an opportunity to talk helping them to integrate (many of whom have to them about a host of

Photos James McAdie and Sam Taylor back into the returned to help things, including their Find out more at www.froglife.org 4 people / places / culture by Sam Taylor the spotter: hugh warwick

Spotting amphibians, reptiles and people who are passionate about them

studying an introduced Toads!’” population of the animals in the In The Beauty in the Beast, Hugh Orkneys. “What I found meets passionate advocates hoping fascinating was that there was this to win his affection for their animal, which everybody knows - particular favourite animal. Using everybody recognises the the (highly scientific!) RICH -T index hedgehog - but very little was for “Researchability, Importance, known about what they actu- Cuteness, Helpabilty and quality of ally do.” Hugh went onto further Time spent” with each animal he research, writing and presenting, meets, Hugh then compares them to becoming a hedgehog expert. This his beloved hedgehogs. I don’t want According to author and ecologist reached a “peak of peculiarity” to give too much away, but Hugh Warwick, hedgehogs are the with Hugh being decorated with his Natterchat readers won’t be most important animals on the “first and last” tattoo featuring a surprised which animal came to planet. After explaining why in A hedgehog for the ExtInked art and feature on Hugh’s second (and Prickly Affair, Hugh was contacted science project. possibly last) tattoo. by hundreds of other wildlife enthusiasts begging to differ. This If things had been different when “I realised this was a way of led to his next book, The Beauty in Hugh was young, it might have been looking at the natural history of the the Beast, which details his Natterjacks that stole his heart. UK, through the eyes of people who introductions to 15 other animal However, despite are passionate about species in the UK, including Adders escaping from boarding school particular species. And the story in Norfolk and Common Toads in to romp through areas home to ends up becoming as much about the Midlands. the toads, Hugh was never lucky the people as it does about the enough to see one of these creatures. Everybody sees beauty Hugh grew up in Chester, spending beautiful amphibians. “I grew up in a different beast. All of these his formative years at a boarding knowing that there was this rare, creatures provide some people with school on the Wirral. “Very early elusive, amazing creature some- some amazing heartfelt on I was reading and looking at where in the sand dunes, and connections.” pictures of wildlife - I was every time we went out we’d get obsessed,” explains Hugh. “For caught by the teachers and dragged You can enter our prize draw to be in a while, I was going to be James back by our hair. So I never, in 5 with the chance of winning a copy of The Herriot as I’d read all his books years of persecution, misery and Beauty in the Beast by sending an email about being a vet and I thought that horror, got to see the Natterjack with your name, address and the subject ‘Hedgehog Hugh’ to sam.taylor@froglife. sounded good...but then I realised toads along the beach at Hoylake, org by 1st December 2012. you had to be really clever.” The which I find absolutely terrible. self effacing author moved onto The teacher should have had me Got a suggestion for a person, book, film ecology, with his hedgehog obses- out there every day saying ‘here is or place for the spotter? Get in touch: sion beginning what’s important in life; Natterjack [email protected] Jules Howard and Sivi Sivanesan Photos: Hugh Warwick,

Please help Save Our Dragons by:

Sending a cheque made payable to Froglife to 2a Flag Business Exchange, Vicarage Farm Road, Peterborough, PE1 5TX with a note saying it’s for the Dragons Appeal

Giving Froglife a call to donate over r the phone using credit or debit card froglife fundraising appeal save ou on 01733 558844 We have ambitious plans to help amphibians and reptiles and ons drag Donating online using your card at we need your help. Most of our grants only cover 80-90% of the www.froglife.org costs of our conservation and learning projects. So every £1 you donate to our appeal is equivalent to 10 worth of funding for us. £ Or texting NEWT13 with a £1-10 We can do much more for amphibians and reptiles with your support! donation to 70070 what I’m up to... Formally Wild Wild or formal, all gardens can have wildlife value

Annemarie Hammond’s garden is Annemarie, the garden was of a Annemarie’s passion for frogs open to the public under Scotland’s more classic design with a lawn and really came about after she had made Garden Scheme, which facilitates the shrubs. It was only when Annemarie her first experimental garden pond, opening of gardens of horticultural could no longer teach the flute that which was absolutely tiny. “Almost as interest to the general public. Froglife the need for another creative outlet soon as it had water in, along came are lucky enough to be Annemarie’s inspired an interest in gardening, the frogs. I could sit there for hours chosen charity so I went to meet her which has lasted for another 20 watching them, noses out of the to find out a little bit more about her years. Annemarie’s motto is “aes- water or sitting on the stones. A lot of passion for gardening and thetically pleasing, frogs do sit on hot stones in the amphibians. botanically interesting and wildlife summer and become quite catatonic friendly.” and that’s when I can feed them the Annemarie has been supporting slugs! I also have newts in my garden, Froglife since 2000, when she read “The interesting thing is to keep but have only ever seen two toads, an article about us in the Telegraph those three in balance,” explains which I think were escapees from outlining our work and our need to Annemarie. “You can make it wildlife predators, as it’s mostly a frog get help with fundraising. friendly by allowing it to become a garden.” meadow, but that’s not a garden to For the first 20 years of its life with my way of thinking.”

Find out more at www.froglife.org

6 Every edition, we feature a Froglife supporter taking action to help amphibians and reptiles. For autumn / winter 2012, Public Engagement Officer Sivi Sivanesan drops in for a peek at a stunning wildlife garden.

If you would like to let us know what you’re up to or to suggest a friend who should be featured please email [email protected]. Annemarie’s Top 5 Tips for a beautiful and frog friendly garden

Build a pond, even the smallest pond or tub pond can support frogs. 1. These can be raised ponds if you have very small children, or put in later when the children are older.

Create somewhere for frogs to hibernate over winter. This could 2. be a log pile, or Annemarie found a specially made product online. “I’ve always found frogs in there throughout the year including all but the worst winters, when I’ve seen lots of frogs huddled together.”

Make a pond close to shelter if possible to help animals find cover 3. quickly from predators - while Anne- marie was always a cat person, she admits to going off them due to how they play with and kill frogs. Photos: Sivi Sivanesan

Rockeries and rocky edges on raised beds are great features for gardens 4. of any size which can house all sorts of wildlife including amphibians.

‘Tumps and tussocks’ of plants are where Annemarie finds the most She has an amazing collection of plants. 5. frogs - low growing plants that “I started at garden centres as everyone does. produce cover close to the ground, I think they are a brilliant way of getting to with a loose structure for animals to know plants to begin with. Now I more or less access. Froglets benefit from use a mixture of plant nurseries and mail heather clumps that are grown near order with a few good garden centres. The her main pond for cover as they garden is chock-a-block with unusual plants, emerge after metamorphosis. not necessarily pretty plants, but interesting ones. And I’ve been introduced to Alpine plants and Alpine beds to which I’ve now gotten hooked.”

Annemarie has seen a lot of benefits from her wildlife gardening - both for the wildlife itself and in her own life. “You’re in the fresh air, walking miles every day and you meet lots of people. I’ve never been so happy or made so many good friends since I started gardening.”

Natterchat Autumn / Winter 2012 natterchat feature Why did the toad cross the road? Roads, wildlife, ecology and us by Dr Silviu Petrovan

The science of road serious accidents, with at least 350 also reduce the quality of available people injured annually in deer and habitat, increase disturbance and ecology vehicle collisions in England alone help the spread of wildlife diseases Road ecology might sound like an (Langbein, 2011). However, this is and invasive plants. They can also absurd concept, as there is little only a small part of a very pollute nearby surface waters. New “ecological” in the typical image of complicated picture, as road effects roads and increasing traffic roads. Instead, roads bring to mind can be much more insidious and gradually split the habitats and busy, grey, fast, loud places subtle. populations into smaller and smaller unfortunately often littered with units, making them much more animal corpses. However, there is Wildlife impacts: A vulnerable to extinction. As a side a branch of ecology called just that, effect in tropical areas roads also which investigates the interactions growing concern mean easier access for illegal between transport systems and the Only 60 years ago the extent and logging and bushmeat for hunters. natural environment. This includes impact of roads would have been considering animals, plants, air and hugely different in Western Europe water quality and, of course, the (and on most continents). In Britain, Effects on amphibians wellbeing of human communities. for example, the number of licensed and reptiles vehicles has increased by more Worldwide some of the animal It is almost 90 years since the first than 800% since 1950 (Transport groups most heavily affected by scientific paper described wildlife Statistics GB 2011) and the total direct road mortality are road mortality in the journal Science road length in the UK in 2010 was amphibians and reptiles. As much in 1925. The most 245,000 miles! as 80% of all carcasses in locations conspicuous impact of roads on the across Europe are those of toads natural world probably still is the The impacts of this growing network and frogs. fleeting sight of some unfortunate of roads on wildlife are varied. squashed creature, (most likely a Across the world, roads are linked to Reptiles such as snakes and lizards fox, badger or pheasant in the UK). habitat fragmentation and are often attracted to warm road Wildlife on roads can also cause isolation of populations. Roads surfaces on cool nights.

Find out more at www.froglife.org 8 wildlife & roads

Stopping them from crossing the planning. Small tunnels can easily road would also stop them from become clogged with leaves and breeding. sediment or fences can become damaged making them ineffective, so monitoring and maintenance are So what can we do? vital. Worryingly, a preliminary study This is still very much a developing by Froglife suggests that area, but there are a number of monitoring of wildlife tunnels is rare solutions which have been shown to non existent in the UK. to work to varying degrees. However, on the more positive side, Replacement ponds a 5 year monitoring of the tunnel New ponds created on the “right” and fence systems for newts by side of the road can offer some Froglife near Peterborough does help. Success will depend on how show that such systems can offer a comparable the old and new pond solution for maintaining connectivity are, and in some cases this may and preventing isolation of need to be combined with other amphibians. This is promising as solutions. newts are notoriously more difficult to help through fence Volunteer support and tunnel projects, moving small Volunteer Toad Patrols make a distances and climbing even vertical phenomenal difference by saving fences. thousands of animals every year. This is hard work for the The future volunteers and depends on It seems likely that worldwide we are having a constant commitment to going to continue to build new and going out on cold nights to rescue bigger roads for the next few animals and help them back to their decades, so we are also going to breeding ponds safely. need to work hard to mitigate their effects on wildlife and habitats. In Fences and traps terms of what Froglife can do, Temporary fences and pitfalls used constant work to improve data to collect amphibians which are collection and to provide better transported by volunteers have support to the amazing Toad been used successfully for Patrollers is continuing more decades, including at the largest strongly than ever. We will also toad crossing site in the UK at keep pushing for better science to Amphibians are particularly Henley Marlow. Here sometimes support different solutions and for vulnerable due to en masse more than 10,000 adult toads are the effective use of these options. migrations in spring and autumn, transported annually. This still For example, another Froglife slow movement and often relies on constant effort from local project aims to install camera traps immobility when faced with lights volunteers. in tunnels in an effort to create an and vibration of approaching cars inexpensive and effective system for at night. Depressingly, the Wildlife tunnels under roads monitoring the success and probability of mortality for a toad The most adequate long term conditions. crossing a road was calculated at solution for amphibians in many between 34% and 98% depending cases would be tunnels under the Hopefully, the coming years will see on the traffic (Hens & Buchwald, roads. This is not a simple us making important steps in the 2001).The worst situations are solution as these can be expensive field of road ecology in relation to when the road passes in the vicin- and have sometimes suffered understanding and implementing the ity of the aquatic breeding habitat most effective ways for protecting

technical problems which have Langton, Oliver Kratz, Iain Maclean Sivi Sivanesan, Silviu Petrovan and Dave Kilbey Photos: Tom (also true for newt species). To reduced their efficiency. They also amphibians and reptiles. further complicate the matter, need annual monitoring and preventing amphibians from maintenance. Tunnels, especially accessing the road with fences long ones under wide roads, can would spell disaster for these create very different conditions species as almost always the need compared to the exterior. The to cross a road relates to the fact cold, dark spaces which sometimes that it is placed between their results can be entirely avoided terrestrial and aquatic habitats. by amphibians without careful Natterchat Autumn / Winter 2012 7 research round up a summary of the science: toads on roads

by Paul Furnborough Paper 2: ‘The role of road traffic in the near extinction of Common Toads (Bufo bufo) in Paper 1: ‘Usefulness of Ramsey and Bury.’ volunteer data to measure the Author: Arnold Cooke large scale decline of ‘‘common’’ Source: Nature in Cambridgeshire 53, 45-50 toad populations.’ (2011) Authors: Anna Bonardi et al Source: The Journal of Research summary: This paper has a more Biological Conservation 144 2011 2328 - 2334 local focus, as Arnold Cooke has been monitoring toads in Ramsey since 1974. In 2004 he Research summary: This paper splits neatly into reported a decline which since then has worsened two elements: a statistical walk-through of how to a near local extinction. to analyse messy data from large-scale volunteer Daytime surveys of dead toads were undertaken surveys, and some herpetological conclusions from throughout the breeding season. Daytime breeding Toads on Roads data from Italy. counts have been taken yearly since 1990 in one of Volunteers rescue tens of thousands of toads from the ponds. In 2004 a vehicle survey was roads during the breeding season migrations each undertaken soon after dark for each of the twelve year, creating a huge dataset, repeated over a series roads. Predictably perhaps, traffic flow varied of years. Understandably data collection is often a significantly throughout the week, which suggests secondary priority in the heat of a busy night of toad that the night of the week on which peak toad lifting, and there are many pitfalls which can lead to migrations occur could be an important factor in false conclusions. The researcher needs to mortalities. consider how many volunteers were out, for how Although casualty (road) counts decreased long, weather conditions and how these factors vary signficantly between 1990 and 2010, this was between sites and years. The Bonardi study significantly correlated to the decrease in live analysed data from 33 populations of Common Toad (pond) counts of toads. By 2007 live counts had in Italy, with each population surveyed between 3-18 dropped to zero. years and included over 1,000,000 toads! Widespread population declines of the common This study showed that it was possible to analyse toad in Britain have been logged since the 1950s. volunteer-gathered data and came up with some Several factors highlighted in this paper indicate very interesting - and disturbing - results. The that unsustainable road mortality is the prime meta-analysis showed most populations were in cause for this recent decrease. When data from decline over the last decade. Over the same period Ramsey was fitted to a model, the probability of a the analysis showed a 76% cumulative average toad being killed during a single crossing on one of decline in populations. To put this in context, the roads was 67%. official criteria for a species to be considered The pattern of casualties on one site is consistent ‘endangered’ is “population size declines more than with a road traffic increase since 1974, until losses 50% per decade or in three generations.” hit an unsustainable level in the 1980s and casualty There is some debate as to how applicable these numbers declined, reflecting a decreasing guidelines are to widespread species with large population. The rate of decrease in casualties ranges and often abundant populations which could tended to be greater on roads with more traffic. be considered unlikely to go extinct. However, even Finally, adult toads have a tendency to migrate to within this study one population of 6,000 became and from breeding ponds from a certain direction; it extinct in 7 years, so the risk must be recognised. appears that their direction of migration is These trends have also been identified in changing with relatively fewer deaths in later years Switzerland and the UK. Teasingly, this study didn’t on the busier roads. offer any insight into causes of these declines, beyond the usual suspects: habitat loss and Both of these studies highlight that roads can have fragmentation, chytridiomycosis, road mortality, a significant impact on local toad populations. pollution and climate change, or some combination of these. It does however suggest that additional data collected by volunteers could help provide answers.

Images: Laura Brady, Sam Taylor, Sivi Sivanesan Sam Taylor, Images: Laura Brady, Find out more at www.froglife.org 10 policy page wildlife & roads

Road to Redemption? by Rob Williams

The policy and legislation surrounding the building of roads in Britain is as intricate and complicated as the road network itself. What do all the ‘policies & paperwork’ mean for the nation’s wildlife?

National Planning Policy Protected Species Natural Environment Framework (NPPF) Legislation & Rural Communities The NPPF was published in March As well as policies and (NERC) Act, 2006. legislation promoting 2012 as part of the government’s This act places a ‘biodiversity conservation of biodiversity, strategy to cut ‘red tape’ on duty’ on all public bodies to there are also laws to pro- development to promote economic have regard for biodiversity tect specific declining or growth. The ultimate goal of the conservation when carrying threatened species. These NPPF is to encourage ‘sustainable out its functions. This ‘duty’ laws can affect development development’ and to achieve this the applies to a list of species and work, such as road building, planning system needs to perform a habitats which are of “principal and actions may be required number of roles, including importance to conserving to minimise and compensate ‘improving biodiversity’. The new biodiversity.” The amphibian for any negative impacts. framework places more emphasis on and reptile species on this list The four ‘common’ reptiles ecological networks, requiring their are: all six native reptiles, (Adder, Grass Snake, creation rather than simply Natterjack Toad, Common Common Lizard and Slow- maintenance and repair. It also goes Toad, Great Crested Newt, Worm) are protected from as far as to state the planning Pool Frog, Leatherback and killing, injury and/or sale. system should provide a net gain for Loggerhead Turtles. Whereas, the Pool Frog, Nat- biodiversity wherever possible. This duty extends not just to terjack Toad, Great Crested However, the effect of this policy will protecting sites, habitats and Newt, Smooth Snake and be governed by how it is interpreted species, but also to seeking Sand Lizard, known as ‘Eu- at a local level, particularly in opportunities to enhance and ropean Protected Species’ relation to the presumption in favour restore biodiversity. receive additional protection of sustainable development. So Unfortunately in many cases from disturbance, whilst the new policy has been work still focuses on damage possession and relatively positive there are still limitation for biodiversity, destruction of breeding and many potential pot-holes remaining rather than achieving positive resting places. for our native wildlife! gains.

So with all this protection the nation’s Submit your records - this highlights to planning amphibians and reptiles are safe, aren’t they...? authorities that a species is present and needs planning consideration. Most definitely NOT! Even with all this legislation Take action - if you are sure protected amphibians or amphibians and reptiles are still sometimes overlooked reptiles are being ignored by developers then inform the or ignored during development. So here are some great local planning authority or wildlife crime officer (if there is ways to make sure this doesn’t happen: one in your area). Get surveying - many suitable areas have no records Get publicity - generate support for local conservation simply because no one has ever looked! So check out your action and let other people know if more could be done to local patch and see what you find! protect our native wildlife!

Natterchat Autumn / Winter 2012 11 The latest news from Froglife’s Toads on Roads project.

Every spring committed volunteers across the UK rescue thousands of Common Toads from busy roads as they migrate to their breeding ponds. Public Engagement Officer Sivi Sivanesan has been taking a look at the Toads on Roads project and working with Conservation Coordinator Dr Silviu Petrovan on all the historic data.

Firstly a big thank you to those of Thanks to some of the Patrollers you who have been able to submit who have helped to fill in gaps in data this year. We still have some the historic data we were able to toad counts coming in, and if you’ve compare numbers from 2010-2012 not had a chance to send yours feel for 57 sites. This is a very simple free to email it to me at comparison of toad numbers only. [email protected] While some of the sites have seen Given that 2012 has been one of the reductions in 2012 compared with wettest summers in recent years, it 2011 and also 2010, there are a few seems crazy that we were worried sites that have seen increases in about droughts at the start of the numbers of toads saved. As Paul spring. The weather certainly explained in the Research Round appears to have had an effect on the Up, there are a lot of factors to number of toads found on some of consider as to why this is the case. the sites. What is clear, however, is that As data has come in a familiar in 2012 the site with the highest theme cropped up...many Toad number of toads saved was Lower Patrols reported seeing much lower Bodham (Sellbrigg) with 10,153 numbers than in 2011. Some sites toads moved to safety. Well done, reported decreases of 30% in the and thank you to all the volunteers number of toads being seen (both involved in the project. dead animals as well as those being saved). Find out more at www.froglife.org

12 toad talk

Focus on: Ebford, Devon 111total number of Toad Patrols Every Toad Needs a returning data 7,785 the most toads moved in 2011 Friend on one site in 2011 (Henley Marlow) by Dick Downer

Our involvement with Toad Patrolling came about some 15/16 years ago when we noticed a substantial number of squashed toads in Lower 80,856 Lane, Ebford, Exeter. Lower Lane is total number of toads helped in 2011 approximately 1/3rd mile in length and we rapidly realised it was a toad migration route. What was to be done?

Following useful information from Devon Wildlife total91 number of Trust and Froglife, we were able to persuade East Toad Patrols Devon Council to provide portable signs and even returning data the police came to our rescue with two battered in 2012 10,153 the most toads moved warning signs for our use. The stage was set for on one site in 2012 the following year and neighbours were (Lower Bodham ) approached, then an appeal was made in the Parish News for volunteers.

Then came the first problems: toads only move when weather conditions are right - cold weather 54,967 brings a halt to the proceedings. Volunteers are total number of toads helped in 2012 volunteers: they cannot be press-ganged; they have other lives to lead. Timing (18:00-22:00hrs) each night is a big commitment, especially when Under construction! the migration can last as long as six weeks due to inclement weather. We are in the process of working on a new Toads on Roads area of the Froglife website, with John Volunteers need buckets and torches and the Heaser of Toad Watch (and the Norfolk Toad children wear reflective clothing. Ponds are Patrols). You can keep an eye on progress at prepared for the new inhabitants; numbers (in- www.froglife.org/toadsonroads. cluding deaths) are recorded. We provide encouragement, and photographs supporting an Thank you Patagonia article are sent to the local paper. The telephone message “the toads are on the move” always Froglife have been given a grant by Patagonia raises a smile from volunteers. Environmental Grants to work with two Toad Patrol sites in the UK to explore solutions to some of the problems that they face. As well as Since we started we have saved well over 10,000 working towards improvements at these key toads, innumerable frogs and newts. On one sites, the project will build better protection for evening in 2008 we collected 129 toads, but on the declining amphibian populations of the UK by other occasions it was as low as 13 over the 22 creating case studies, best practice guidelines, days we were on patrol. and other tools that can be used to tackle similar situations for amphibians and road mortality in My wife was approached on many occasions other locations in the UK. in the early years to give interviews, the most amusing being the Arthur Black show, Vancouver, Canada. She only learned later that she was considered one of the world’s weirdest women... Natterchat Autumn / Winter 2012 Photos: Sivi Sivanesan, Jules Howard

13 out and about with froglife events / volunteering / talks / training

We have an exciting diary of opportunities for you to meet some of the Froglife team, get involved with projects or help out through volunteering. More information on our events can be found on the website at www.froglife.org/events Date Event Details Type Every Thursday Hampton Nature 10.30am-2.30pm on Thursdays and 9.30am-3.30pm on Practical & every other Reserve Volunteer Saturdays. Please contact [email protected] or 07977 volunteering Saturday sessions, 250048 if you would like to get involved. open to all Peterborough

Saturday1st Pond Lining Day at Please contact Iain to book as above. Practical December Palacerigg Country Park volunteering 10am-3pm open to all

Saturday 12th Pond creation day at Please contact Iain to book as above. Practical January 2013 Glencryan Woods, North volunteering 10am-3pm Lanarkshire open to all

Wednesday 16th My Wild Life film Hosted by Froglife Trustee Professor Roger Downie with guest Networking for January screening and Dragon speaker Sir John Lister Kaye from the Aigas Field Centre. Find out Scottish based 5pm-8pm Finder networking event more about the plans for our Scottish Dragon Finder project and see partners at the Glasgow Science the My Wild Life film. Centre Places are limited. Please contact Jodie as above if you are interested in attending Monday 21st My Wild Life film A special screening of interviews and memories of encounters with Fun event for January screening at the Cresset wildlife, hosted by wildlife presenter and Froglife Patron Mike Dilger. adults and 11.30am-1.30pm Theatre, Please contact [email protected] or 01733 558844 to book school groups Peterborough

Friday 25th My Wild Life film Hosted by author and ecologist Hugh Warwick. Find out more about Networking for January screening and Dragon getting involved in this exciting new London-based project and see the London based 1pm-5pm Finder Project launch at My Wild Life film. partners the London Places are limited. Please contact Jodie as above if you are interested Wetlands Centre in attending

Wednesday 27th John Shuttleworth’s Out Comedian John Shuttleworth has fallen for amphibians and kindly Fun evening February at of Our Sheds comedy agreed to donate proceeds from his hometown show to Froglife and event 7.30pm gig at The Riverhead the Zoological Society of London’s EDGE project. To book call the box Theatre, Victoria Road, office on 01507 600 350. All tickets £15. Louth, Lincolnshire “His stand up is second to none, his timing is impeccable, and you can practically warm your hands on his good nature. “ - The Guardian Guide.

Saturday 23rd Free Common Lizard Help us find out where Common lizards are in Scotland, learn how to Free training March Training at Palacerigg identify them and record your sightings. The day includes a 10am-3pm Country Park, North classroom session and a site visit (weather permitting). Lanarkshire Please contact [email protected] or 07772 308540 to book Dr Joanna Smith Dennis Low, Photos: Rob Williams,

Join John Shuttleworth at his comedy show on The One Show’s Mike Dilger 27th February in Louth hosts our My Wild Life event and help fundraise for on Monday 21st January in amphibian conservation Peterborough

Find out more at www.froglife.org

14 staff / volunteers roger’s book review Saving a Million Species: froglifer factfile: roger extinction risk from climate change. Edited by Lee Hannah. Island Press, amphibians & reptiles from Glasgow to Trinidad Washington, Covelo and London, 2012. The debate about climate change has focused heavily on whether it is happening, what is causing it and what can be done to mitigate its effects. The idea that climate change could result in mass extinctions of wild species came to prominence in 2004 with the publication of a paper co- ordinated by Chris Thomas. The paper included cautious comments about the uncertainty of many of its calculations, but the headline figure was that one million species were at risk of extinction in the foreseeable future as a result of the climate changes. Sphaenorhynchus lacteus Hannah’s book is a serious academic work aimed at Name: Professor Roger contribute to frogs: Tobago’s glass frog “conservationists, researchers, Downie conservation education tadpoles are very weird, teachers, undergraduate and and are currently with really long snaky graduate students, and Volunteer role: Trustee helping with an exciting tails; and the tadpoles of policymakers”. A total of 32 link between Trinidad and the silky skinned tree frog scientists have contributed to the 20 What does that Glasgow schools. Sphaenorhynchus lacteus chapters. Multi-author books of this involve? Providing have been very elusive. sort can often appear disjointed and oversight of the work What makes you get up Turns out they are dark indigestible but Hannah has done an done by Froglife staff. in the morning? amongst roots and excellent editing job. We also act as a My alarm clock! More floating aquatic Herpetologists will find two chapters sounding-board for ideas seriously, I find that vegetation - no wonder of particular interest. Alison Cameron with particular trustees being ‘retired’ gives me we didn’t spot them at the reviews the various ways in which bringing specialist the chance to do lots of bottom of pools! Thomas et al’s extinction estimates knowledge and qualities the things I want to do - have been refined: one is the IUCN’s to the the role. like make a better job of What’s the number one effort to distinguish animal my allotment, spend more bit of kit that helps you groups with characteristics How long have you time with grandchildren, do your job? making them susceptible to extinction been volunteering with and get more research For any tadpole work, a through climate change: their finding Froglife? 2 years and a done on frogs. good long handled net was 52% of amphibians (reptiles were bit. is vital: the kind with 3 not analysed). Sarah McMenamin and What do you love piece handles that screw Lee Hannah review evidence of What else do you do? I about amphibians and together are great for climate-linked extinctions in recent am a Professor of reptiles? For me, taking from Glasgow to times and their principal focus is Zoological Education at ‘interest’ is a better word Trinidad. amphibians. the University of Glasgow. than ‘love’. I’m fascinated Overall, I found the book surprisingly Technically retired, I still by the complexity and What could Froglife easy to read (though a few chapters do some teaching and diversity of frog life Supporters do to help are somewhat technical) and would research and am heavily histories, especially the work you do? certainly recommend it to all involved in conservation tropical species. There’s Providing tangible conservationists. and wildlife organisations. lots to be found out. support for amphibian My own herp interests are conservation worldwide: in Trinidad and Tobago. I Had a great wildlife although thousands of We have a free copy of Saving A visit Trinidad most years moment? species are declining in Million Species to give away. To be with a group of students This summer, it was developing countries, we entered in the free prize draw, to carry out research on seeing two kinds of might be able to reverse please send an email to the island’s frogs and tadpole I’d never seen the declines. [email protected] by 1st reptiles, especially marine before, both belonging December 2012 with your name, turtles. We also to Trinidad and Tobago address and the subject line ‘Million species competition.’ Natterchat Autumn / Winter 2012 15 To order visit www.froglife.org/shop Froglife is or call 01733 558844 frogalogue supported by

We have a range of cards, books and gifts suitable for Christmas and other occasions in the recently revamped Froglife shop. There are some examples below - do have a look to see what else is on offer at www.froglife.org/shop. All funds raised support our conservation and education work.

We also have cards for Valentine’s Day, weddings, birthdays and other occasions! and Better Together Volunteers ~ Biffa Awards ~ Big Lottery Fund: Awards for All ~ BTCV ~ City Bridge Trust ~ Co-op Community Fund ~ Cory Environmental ~ Ecominds ~ The Ernest Cook Trust ~ The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation ~ Garfield Weston Foundation ~ Glasgow City Council Landfill Community Froglife Christmas cards featuring creations by Ruby Tingle Fund ~ Glasgow Natural History and Sara Collins Society ~ Groundworks West London ~ London Amphibian Pack of 6 cards, 2 of each colourful and Reptile Group ~ Mears Ltd design: £3.00 ~ Natural England ~ J.Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust ~ Northamptonshire County Council ~ North Lanarkshire Council ~ O&H Toads on Roads button badge Hampton Ltd ~ Patagonia ~ Perkins Show your support for this vital Engines Company ~ Peterborough project and the hard working City Council ~ Peterborough Youth volunteers who rescue Offending Service ~ The Robertson thousands of toads every year Trust ~ SITA Trust ~ The Tudor Button badge: 99p Trust ~ University of Glasgow ~ Wakeham Trust ~ WREN Waste Recycling Environmental

Corporate supporters ACO ~ Birdsong Charity Consulting CSS Copiers ~ GKL Group Greenwillows Associates Ltd ~ John Muir Country Store Ltd ~ TC Toad

Conservation and Education Advisory Group (external advisors): Christine Giles ~ Jules Howard ~ Stephen Lambert ~ Andy Mortimore ~ Daniel Piec ~ Natalie Pretsell

This Student Explorer Pack contains a range of publications and gifts Trustees & volunteers suitable for the budding Lin Wenlock, Frank Clark, Roger herpetologist. Family and Downie, Heather Jones, Rob Oldham, Friendship Packs are also available. Desmond Quinn and Inez Smith; Ashlea Jarvis and all the other Student pack: £15.00 volunteers we couldn’t do without!