Don’t forget frogs during big freeze

With freezing temperatures set to hit the UK this week, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust has issued advice on caring for frogs and toads caught in frozen garden ponds.

Provided there is sufficient oxygen in the water, amphibians can survive for long periods beneath the surface if ponds freeze over, with many frogs lying dormant until temperatures rise.

The growth of plants and green algae is helpful, as these oxygenate the water, even under ice.

Creating a hole in the ice has also traditionally been suggested, but recent studies have proven this to have little effect on oxygen levels.

Leaving a ball or other floating object in the pond, which can be removed to leave a hole after it freezes, will help air-breathing creatures such as newts. It will also give birds somewhere to drink and bathe. But never pour hot water on to the ice. Samantha Herbert