Avington crossing not active yet

The drove lane crossing is very small and it is possible that this crossing will be de registered. Are the toads in decline? Well we dont know.....

New crossing in Cheriton - hopefully Froglife will register this crossing though they didnt last year. We are in discussion with Hampshire County Council to see if we can move the signs from Drove Lane crossing.....more news soon

J

Great I have finally got back into the account!

So we will be looking at the toad situation in Hampshire. We need to ask the big question is it worth picking up toads in the middle of busy roads?

The signs can go up to warn drivers, or roads can be closed for the breeding season but is it really worth endangering your life for the sake of the toads?

We need to address this issue and one solution could be fencing

http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/news_releases/Pershore_toad_crossing.htm

In places where it is too dangerous we need to be sensible obviously

Regards

Jon

Hampshire Toad Crossing coordinator

Dates, times to visit, and other sites

Hi all

Need help with visits this week

Avington & Drove Lane


Mon - from 6pm
Tues - from 6pm
Weds - from 6pm
Fri - from 6pm







If anyone would like to go out on Thursday then please do contact me as we need to cover the migration for the whole week - please let us know if numbers are dropping off



Other news

There are several other toad patrols in Hampshire and I will be helping with recruitment of volunteers to these patrols...... do get in touch

Colden Common - Hensting Lane/Fishers Pond













Ringwood - Blashford Lakes/North Poulner Road













Sherfield on Lodden - Near Basingstoke

2008 signs back up

Hi all

The signs are back up at Avington Park and Drove Lane (Alresford) - the toad patrol has started with some excellent results from Mark who visited in late Feb

Monday 18th Feb

Collected in bucket total: 52 Toads (40 individuals + 6 pairs)

2 D.O.R

Also 3 Frogs

Friday 22nd Feb:

Collected in bucket:67 Toads (53 individuals + 7 Pairs)

21 D.O.R

50+ on path to pond

We do need to have people visiting the crossing sites during suitable weather - mild and wet

Please do contact me for a volunteer working form etc and a run down on disease prevention measures

jonathan.cranfield@herpetologic.co.uk


Jon

Updates to come soon

Our numbers are dropping and some evenings no toads have moved....though the health and safety situation turned for the worse for some of us

Getting out the vehicle I came face to face with a large Highland Cattle well there are six of them in the field which is where the toads cross.....

The gate to the lake is locked so Cressida has been releasing the toads as close as possible.

Tomorrow I will be visiting the site during the day to see if any spawn has arrived

The migration may continue until the middle of march well a few more days.....

At the end we will be going for a meal with all the volunteers who have helped out this year


Regards

Jon

Topping 100!

Well Done to Sue, Gina and Cressida

As they rescued over a hundred toads last night (n = 108), well done for your help hopefully more people will be out tonight for the migration from 7.30pm onwards.

I collected up around 25 to 30 toads last night for processing - I noticed that many toads were crossing the road the wrong way were these animals we had rescued previously - we will marking the toads to find out.......more info soon


Also I got some great photos of the toads along the footpath - I will post these soon

Keep an eye out for the first spawn!


Jon

The data dosent look good circa 1997 to 2001