The signs are up and volunteers are on the lookout for lovelorn amphibians in this year’s toad patrol.


The annual migration in Kington Magna began on February 17, when the first toad was spotted crossing the road from the church pond to a breeding pond at Prospect Farm.
Within three days, there were reports of toads on roads in neighbouring village West Stour and two miles away in Henstridge.

In Kington Magna, warning signs have been taken out of the garage and placed above and below the route taken across Church Hill.
And now, every night between dusk and 9.30pm, there will be volunteers out on the hill lifting toads and newts off the road and to safety.
They don’t start moving en masse until early evening temperatures reach 7-8C, especially if it’s drizzly.

The migration normally lasts a month (last year was February 21 to March 25) and is led by villagers Melody and John Bennett with help from the Hicks family at Prospect Farm.

“We are hoping for fewer casualties this year due to the reduction in traffic during lockdown,” said John. “Please spread the word to use Chapel Hill in the village instead.”

The village’s toad patrol has kept records of their work since 2014. Last year, a record total of 179 amphibians were lifted to safety: 90 male toads, 51 females and 38 newts.
In 2019, a total of 149 were placed in buckets and lifted to safety.
But not all survive and some are squished on the road by traffic.

In West Stour, Lorraine Spedding said: “Our toads are out as well, mainly on the little stretch of road past the church. Was thinking of making some signs to warn drivers as sadly seen a few killed already over the last few days.”

For anybody wanting advice about toads on roads, John Bennett advises looking at the website: froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads.

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