In an annual occurrence that underscores the pressing challenges faced by British wildlife, nearly 4,000 toads, frogs, and newts have been rescued while attempting to cross Charlcombe Lane, a road near Bath that is closed for six weeks each year to facilitate their migration to a breeding lake. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort, with Charlcombe Lane being one of only five roads in the UK specifically closed for this purpose.
This year marked the second highest number of amphibians recorded since the road's closure began in 2003. Notably, the patrol reported the first ever sighting of a great crested newt during this period. Over the past 22 years, volunteers have documented over 50,000 amphibians crossing a half-mile stretch of Charlcombe Lane.
The patrol operates primarily during February and March, with more than 50 volunteers working nightly from dusk to aid amphibians on their journey. This year's statistics indicate a significant upswing for the amphibian population, with particularly strong numbers for frogs and palmate newts—1,424 and 1,194, respectively, marking high points in the patrol's history. The number of toads transported safely across the road reached 1,376, the best yearly total since 2010.
Chris Melbourne, who oversees data collection for the Charlcombe Toad Rescue, highlighted the impact of the patrol's efforts. "This has been a gamechanger for our local amphibian population, with the casualty rate dropping from 62% before the patrol started to 3% this year," he said, speaking to The Guardian. He attributed the high number of rescues this season to a combination of weather conditions, starting with cold and dry spells followed by wet and warm periods which are ideal for amphibian activity. One night, on 23 February, volunteers aided 1,119 toads, frogs, and newts in their migration.
The Charlcombe Toad Rescue is just one of more than 200 patrols participating in the national Toads on Roads project, operated by the amphibian and reptile conservation charity Froglife. During the initiative, volunteers don high-visibility jackets and utilise torches and buckets to safely transport the amphibians to designated drop-off points.
Amphibians across the UK are facing severe threats, including habitat fragmentation due to urban development and changing farming practices, leading to declines in populations. Research conducted by Froglife has shown that the common toad population has decreased by an average of 68% over the past three decades. Challenges such as pollution and the impacts of climate change, which cause milder winters and more frequent awakenings from hibernation, further exacerbate these issues.
The government’s agenda for environmental regulations has come under scrutiny, with leaders of nature organisations expressing concern that proposed planning legislation may undermine protections for species such as amphibians. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner previously noted that newts should not receive greater protection than individuals in need of housing, reflecting ongoing debates about the balance between development and environmental conservation.
Source: Noah Wire Services