Toads on the march in the Broads
Each year the toads risk life and limb to negotiate Hall Road and the busy Old Yarmouth Road near Lound Lakes.
The Broads Authority and Essex & Suffolk Water have stepped in to coordinate the toad patrol as part of a national campaign to help save the common toad from disappearing in the region.
Over the coming weeks more than a thousand volunteers nationally will be helping toads across the UK’s roads in an effort to save this amphibian from further decline.
Locally, the Friends of Lound Lakes community group will be escorting toads over Hall Road as part of the‘Toads on Roads’ campaign, run by the national wildlife charity Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
“Over the last five years our toad patrol has rescued thousands of toads,” said Holly Berwick,
to join this year’s Toad Watch, we would love to hear from local people who have some spare time on Saturday or Thursday mornings and don’t mind getting their hands dirty.”
Old Yarmouth Road is seen as too dangerous to patrol so toad warning signs have been put up to alert drivers to keep a look out. As well as the dangers of being run over toads also are in danger of falling into drains, especially where there are high kerbs.
Essex and Suffolk Water work in partnership with the Broads Authority to manage Lound Lakes for the benefit of wildlife. If you are interested in joining the Toad Patrol next year contact Holly Berwick on 07795 460 866 for more details.
15/03/2010
