Tag Archives: Common Toad

Conservation

Autumnal conservation work, and a toad

Down at the Gunnersbury Triangle, I pulled out a quantity of Ivy that had spread across a considerable area of former meadow. We know it was meadow as it is shown as such on the old reserve map from 30 years ago, and – if proof were needed –the area is covered in old anthills: the yellow ant makes its hills in open grassland.

Anyway, I pulled out armfuls of the ivy, along with brambles and a few nettles, and was rewarded by the sight of a new area ready to grow into flowery meadow, if we can keep it reasonably open and free of brambles.

I disturbed a toad that was sheltering somewhere under the ivy, and took a break to photograph it. The static shots were nice and sharp, but I found I much preferred this action shot as the toad scrambles up a bank. Yes, that’s an ivy stem that I hadn’t yet pulled out.

Toad scrambling for cover
Toad scrambling for cover
Conservation

Hunt that Frog

Down at the reserve, it was time to strim the meadow, which meant a frog hunt. A conservation frog hunt, to dislodge any frogs that might otherwise get permanently strimmed. I walked up and down, sweeping through the cow parsley – it’s a major reason why cutting is now necessary, it needs to be held back to allow more delicate flowers like garlic mustard through  – but no frogs hopped out. I looked under the mats placed there for amphibia – there were no frogs, just three small toads sheltering in the cool darkness.

On the woodland edge of the meadow, brambles have been spreading in their looping way, bending down to the ground, striking root and springing off another few feet into the grass. I pulled up some dozens of them, cutting roots where necessary to leave nothing that could regrow. Some people just quickly clip them off above the ground, which slows them down for a little while: pulling, digging or root-clipping is far more effective.

Down at the pond, the heron was waiting silently, watching for frogs to eat. Since it has arrived, frogs have been much harder to find. I wonder how many of the dozen large frogs I saw mating a few weeks ago have finished up in that enormous dagger-shaped beak.