Each year we run a toad patrol at three sites in Woodcote between mid-February and the end of March
If you are interested in joining the Toad Patrol to save as many amphibians as possible during this spawning period then send us a message using the contact button below
Introduction
For the last few years a growing number of volunteers have been ‘lollipop people’ for Woodcote’s amphibians near Greenmoor Ponds, on Shirvells Hill and the South Stoke Road. Armed with torches, they collect the frogs, toads and newts in buckets and take them across the road to the safety of the ponds. Our objective is to try to maintain the population that has bred in the ponds for many decades.
The adult toads are a minimum of two years old and could be up to five or six years old (thought to be the maximum age of a wild toad). Populations naturally fluctuate from year to year and presumably the number of amphibians which spawn is a reflection both of the breeding success in previous years and the degree of survival of young animals until they are big and old enough to breed. As amphibians can spawn more than once (ie in consecutive years), some of the frogs, toads and newts we will be helping across the road one spring may have been carried across in previous years!
To register you interest please contact us via the Contact Us page!
Woodcote Correspondent Articles & Data
Here are some articles written by the Toad Patrol group for the local Woodcote Correspondent
Statistics from 2020 through to 2025 (on multiple Excel tabs):
Please be aware that you may have to “allow” the file below to be downloaded
2020 to 2025
This link does not currently work in Chrome, so please copy and paste the url below:
http://woodcotecg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Woodcote-toad-patrol-stats-2020-to-2025.xlsx
Amphibian Photos!
image credits: middle left – Alex; lower – Clive Ormonde