Village 'toad patrol' tries to stop amphibian harm

Hundreds of toads have been rescued from a village's roads as volunteers help them to hop back home.

Scores of the little amphibians have been travelling to a large pond near Dales Green Road in Mow Cop, Staffordshire, for the mating season.

Their journey often involves dangerously crossing rural roads around the village, which has led to dozens being killed by vehicles.

Helen De Takats, organiser of the Mow Cop Toad Patrol, said volunteers have helped more than 300 toads cross the roads over the last three weeks.

The animals were likely to have been born at the pond four or five years ago, she told BBC Midlands Today, as they would usually begin to return home at about this age.

"It's like a migration back to where they were born," she said. "You can imagine in four or five years how a landscape could have changed."

Volunteer Melanie Selstrom said the toads would often follow the exact same route their ancestors travelled for generations.

"Nothing gets in their way, which is really sad because obviously car-vs-toad is not a great outcome," she added.

Village resident and nature recovery officer Elis Smits said protecting the toads and their habitat was vital.

"Ponds have reduced quite significantly, especially in residential gardens," he said.

"Water quality is a key indicator of toad survival. If the water quality isn't in a moderate to good condition, then it can actually impact breeding."

According to research from the Froglife charity, populations of the common toad have decreased by about two-thirds over the last 40-50 years.

The Mow Cop volunteers said they wanted to raise awareness and encourage other areas to start their own patrols, to try to prevent further decline.

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