Toad Patrol Saves 10,000 Amphibians Annually

Volunteers with the Toads on Roads Patrol have reported assisting nearly 10,000 amphibians in safely crossing a road last year. This dedicated group conducts nightly patrols between January and March each year, focusing on the area around Hawkridge Reservoir on the Quantocks in Somerset. Their crucial work involves carrying toads, frogs, and newts over the road to protect them from traffic. The initiative, part of the Friends of the Quantocks group, operates on their doorstep, acknowledging the significant number of animal casualties that occur annually. The location is considered ideal for toads, with adjacent woodland and the reservoir providing essential habitats for their migration between land and water. The patrol also engages younger generations, with children participating enthusiastically and even receiving high-visibility vests as gifts. Participants express a strong sense of reward and connection to nature through their conservation efforts.