Villages’ toad patrol squad to the rescue!
EFFORTS to help amphibians cross a busy road on the north Northumberland coast have been recognised by a national campaign.
A group of residents in Seahouses and Bamburgh have formed a voluntary group to patrol a stretch of road north of Seahouses, where large numbers of common toads are killed by passing traffic.
The breeding site for toads north of Seahouses is a pond across dunes south of Monks House, meaning that the warty amphibians have to cross the B1340, better known as the Northumberland Coastal Route.
Members of the group are out each night patrolling the area, attempting to get as many toads to their breeding site safely and securely.
The site has now been official recognised by a national campaign named “Toads on the Roads”, coordinated by the national wildlife charity Froglife.
Common toad numbers are thought to be declining in the UK, in some cases caused by the effect of road traffic as the toads travel back to their breeding points which they have used for generations.
Over the coming weeks, thousands of volunteers across the country will be preparing to help toads across roads in a co-ordinated effort to help save the common toad from further declines.
Though toad patrols have existed in Northumberland for years, they were thrust further into the spotlight in 2023 when hotel manager and director Hayley Watson, from Haydon Bridge, revealed she would save around 200 toads and 20 frogs each night during the breeding season, earning her the name ‘Toad Girl’ among locals.
Toads typically breed from March throughout the spring and, at times, into the summer.
However, unseasonably warm weather has meant the breeding season has begun earlier than usual in 2024.
The new Seahouses voluntary efforts and crossing have been coordinated by Claire Watson-Armstrong of Bamburgh Castle.
Claire said: “I do love my creatures and after seeing the absolute carnage and plight of hundreds of toads that had been killed or injured by traffic as they tried to reach their breeding pond close to where I live, I felt compelled to try to do something to help them.
“I put out a post on our local area Facebook page saying I was heading out in high viz to go to the toads’ rescue and did anyone want to join me – and people’s responses have been incredible. We now have a Facebook group called Seahouses Toads on Roads with over 100 amazing members.
“They are helping with the plight of toads in the Monks House area by volunteering to patrol and lift toads, look out and report toad movements and help raise awareness locally about the toads and their migration. We’re eager to get more people volunteering and we’d love to hear from people with an interest in helping this unusual and charismatic amphibian for a few nights as the weather gets milder. It’s a lovely thing to do and very rewarding.”
Claire added: “Most people are unaware about the toads here and think they are mud or debris.
“We are liaising with Northumberland County Council to get temporary road signs to warn motorists about migrating toads in the road ahead.”
Volunteer Philippa Gill said: “I really want to help the toads get from the dunes across to the pond without getting killed. It’s a very busy road and it’s so sad to see them squashed in such numbers.
“I didn’t realise we had the toads here and want to look after them. It’s a journey they have been doing for hundreds of years and we need to help preserve them.”
A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council confirmed that they had received the request from the group, and they are working with the local parish council on the details.