Toad Patrol #Night1 - Please read sign up details!!

We will help toads travel along the road to their spring site for breeding so they don’t get run over. This will involved picking toads up and placing in a bucket to transport to pond site. This is weather dependent so please check on the day if it is going ahead. You must complete a declaration and read Froglife Pack to join this session so please contact Ellie who can send this to you to complete and return to Patrol Lead for the area. You cannot come along if you haven’t done this.

More information:

We will be going to the Hensting Lane toad patrol site located just off the B3354 at Fisher's Pond. It's not far from Marwell Zoo. Hensting Lane is quite long, and we patrol, essentially, the 'southern' section of it, from the junction with the B3354 (by the Fisher's Pond pub) right up to around 1 mile along the road. Limited, on road, parking is available in 2 narrow lay-bys (on the left-hand side of the road) just up from the Fisher's Pond pub. We will meet at pub and park there - just need to check parking to see if they have any conditions, but we will pop in for a drink after.

Several ponds run alongside the lane. All of these ponds are used by the toads (as well as by frogs & newts). There are no paths along the lane and so patrols necessarily involve being on the road. In places, there are areas where you can step on to a grass verge when traffic approaches, but extreme care is necessary at all times, particularly as the road is quite narrow and a 60mph speed limit applies along a large section of the patrol zone.

If conditions are wet and mild (air temperature is greater than 5C), there are likely to be toads (and newts) on the move. If it is dry and cool (the air temperature is 5C or lower), the toads and newts tend to stay put and patrols are not really necessary. This site has thousands of toads so we have a good chance of helping a lot of toads and some newts and frogs make it safely to there destination.

You will need a headtorch/torch and to wear high vis and bright clothing so you can be seen on the dark lane. We will provide disposable gloves (this is to protect the toads) and buckets to move them in. We have some spare high vis vests if you need one but not many so please bring your own if you can.

Please note the early start time as we need to be there when the toads will start moving at dusk and when the traffic is busiest to have the best impact. We have been asked not to have people walking on the lane on their own for safety so please be on time. As it gets lighter we will be able to do some later sessions.