Embedded Files
How you can help amphibians
If you would like to help amphibians in your garden, here is what you can do:
- Create a pond that has gently sloping sides.
- Allow vegetation cover to develop around the pond's edges.
- Take care in sourcing pond plants - native plants are more beneficial and benefit more species than non-native & potentially invasive species.
- Do not stock your pond with fish.
- Create a compost heap and/or log pile.
- Allow grass to grow in meadows: closely-cut lawns are poor habitat for amphibians and their invertebrate prey. Meadows should be cut during the winter and cuttings raked up and paced on a compost heap if possible.
If you need specific advice on how you can benefit amphibians, please contact info@balcombeecologicalsociety.co.uk, and Ethan will get back to you.
Logging amphibian sightings
Please log all your sightings on iRecord with the following details attached:
- Image
- Species (we can confirm this for you if required)
- Location
- Date and Time
Alternatively, please email info@balcombeecologicalsociety.co.uk with the above details if you do not have iRecord.
We will then forward this to the Sussex Biodiversity and Recording Centre (your name will not be shared).
What to do if you see an injured reptile
Please contact the local wildlife rescue:
Rangers Lodge - 01403 379446 - Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital, Forest Rd, Horsham RH12 4TB.
Native Amphibians found in England
Common frog - Rana temporaria
Commons frogs are the most frequent frog species throughout England. This species can be found in any habiat where there are suitable breeding ponds nearby, and this includes gardens. Gardens ponds are essential for common frogs and their urban population depend on them.
The last record submitted to the Sussex Biodiversity Recording Centre of a common frog was in 2010!
Image taken by Ethan McLaughlan.
Common toad - Bufo bufo
The common toad is a widespread amphibian found throughout England. They prefer deep waters to breed in, so garden ponds may not be suitable if they're not deep.
The last record submitted to the Sussex Biodiversity Recording Centre was in 2002!
Image taken by Ethan McLaughlan.
Natterjack toad - Epidalea calamita
The natterjack toad is a rare species that is confied to costal sand dune systems and sandy heaths. They are not found in gardens.
There are no records of natterjack toads in Balcombe.
Image adopted from the BBC.
Smooth newt - Lissotriton vulgaris
Smooth newts are widespread throughout England and can be found in garden ponds.
The last record submitted to the Sussex Biodiversity Recording Centre of a smooth newt was in 2002!
Image taken by Dan McLaughlan.
Palmate newt - Lissotriton helveticus
Palmate newts are more commonly found in the South East and South West than any other region in England. They prefer shallow ponds on acid-rich soils, making their habitat preferences heathland, moorland, and peat bogs.
There are no recordings of palmate newts in Balcombe.
Image adopted from The Wildlife Trusts.
Great crested newt - Triturus cristatus
Great crested newts (GCN) are widely distributed throughout England. GCNs are the largest species of newt and require large ponds and/or lakes. Therefore, they are not commonly found in gardens.
There are no recordings of great crested newts in Balcombe.
Image adopted from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
Legislation affecting amphibians
In the United Kingdom, all native amphbians are protected by law. There are different levels of protection offered to different species. They are:
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1984
Under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1984, all species of reptiles are protected. However, different species have protection from different human acts. A breakdown can be found below:
Common frog - protected against sale, trade, and advertising for sale.
Common toad - protected against trade.
Smooth newt - protected against trade.
Palmate newt - protected against trade.
However, the great crested newt and natterjack toad require further legal protection under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 - this designates these two species as a European Protected Species (EPS). A breakdown of their legal protection can be found below:
Great crested newt & natterjack toad - protected against deliberate capture, injury, death, disturbance, damaging or destroying their breeding/resting site, obstructing access to their sheltering place, possessing them, and selling them. Furthermore, to survey for this species, a surveyor must hold a license ().
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse