Volunteer and help frogs thrive

Tayside Amphibian and Reptile Group (TayARG) is appealing for more volunteers to improve a number of ponds in Perthshire for amphibians and other wildlife after receiving funding from the Angus Environment Trust.

Project Officer Daniele Muir said: “Frogs especially like to spawn in open water so the Tayside Ponds Project will involve working with TayARG volunteers to clear overgrown vegetation and create pockets of open water.

“This will benefit many different species of wildlife – frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies and damselflies among others.

“The volunteer days will be good fun, but wet and muddy so wellies and waterproofs are a must.

“TayARG will thank all its volunteers when we end the day with coffee and cakes at a local café.”

Catherine Lloyd, Tayside Biodiversity coordinator added:“The Tayside Biodiversity Partnership has long wanted to kick-start a ponds project.

“With the help of volunteers and TayARG and funding from the Angus Environment Trust,we are excited that the first of several pond enhancement events can now begin.

“This project also hopes to address one of the major hazards to amphibians in the area – roadside gullypots.

“We will be working with the local roads department and Friends of Angus Herpetofauna to make and install ladders in the roadside drains so any animals that fall in can then climb out again.

“We will be running two laddermaking workshops over the winter where volunteers can assist in making these life-saving new structures.”

The first volunteer day of the project takes place in Blairgowrie on Saturday, November 25, at the pond on Elm Drive. TayARG have previously carried out vegetation clearance here and will continue the work started in 2015.

Anyone interested in helping is welcome to join TayARG and come along on the day.

Please contact Daniele on taysideamphibians@yahoo.co.uk for more information and to book your place on the volunteer day.