It's a frog's life: Amphibians Under Threat in a Hostile Environment

- Lancashire Evening Telegraph (UK)  April 15, 1998

        Despite recent warm summers and mild winters the climate of Britain is not really suitable for amphibians.  We only have five native species, and not all these are common.

        COMMON TOAD: Present throughout Lancashire;
        COMMON FROG: Present throughout Lancashire;
        NATTERJACK TOAD: Very rare but found on the Lancashire coast;
        COMMON NEWT: Common and present in Lancashire;
        GREAT CRESTED NEWT: Protected and described as rare but there are Lancashire records.

        A letter from Mr and Mrs Gill of Rishton set me thinking about the conservation of amphibians.

        A few years ago pollution and loss of habitat meant that frogs and toads were under threat.    

        Projects such as frog watch have helped but also important is the increase in the quality of our river water and the reduction in the use of agricultural chemicals.

         People such as Mr and Mrs Gill have played their part by having large pools in their garden in which frogs breed. They realised that with 24 frogs breeding in two pools, the amount of spawn was excessive.

        They therefore carried spawn to other areas around Rishton and once tadpoles develop they will return to areas known to them as tadpoles. Toads produce strings of eggs enclosed in a protective jelly inside which tadpoles develop.

        Newts do not produce huge masses of eggs but lay individual ones and secure them to aquatic vegetation. The two rarest amphibians are the natterjack toad and great crested newt.

        At one time the natterjack - which is recognised by a yellow line down the back - occurred throughout the heaths of Britain but its habitats have shrunk to such an extent that it is restricted to control areas.

        Lancashire's coast has several important colonies.

        These are vulnerable when building and leisure developments take place along the coast. The breeding areas need to be protected and the signs are that this is happening.

        The great crested newt breeds in large ponds and it is these which tend to be drained, especially in old industrial or farming areas.

        Old clayworks, cotton mills and iron works required ponds to provide essential water.

        These provided ideal habitats for newts and when building developments take place the ponds should be retained.

        Providing safety is borne in mind, these ponds are an amenity and an ideal habitat for the great crested newt.

        Both the natterjack and the great crested newt are protected species and their future is now assured, although complacency must be avoided.