Why Did The Toad Cross The Road?
Every spring, toads migrate back to ancestral ponds or lakes to breed. Being very particular about where they breed, they invariably migrate back to their ancestral breeding ponds each year, taking the same route, regardless of what lies in their way.
Here in St Mary Bourne, this means a slow, perilous journey to St. Mary Bourne Lake, often from far-away feeding areas. This journey crosses the road near Derrydown Surgery at the junction with the main St. Mary Bourne village road. Their grey-brown color makes them hard to spot on the road, increasing the risk of accidents.
In 2020, Sustainable Bourne Valley launched a toad patrol after reports of toads being squashed in the area.
A Seasonal Migration
Toads begin their migration on mild, damp nights between February and April, usually from dusk onwards. Male toads arrive at the lake first, often waiting for females—or hitching a ride on their backs along the way! Once migration begins, hundreds of toads may cross the roads over just a few nights.
Why Toads Need Our Help
A study by Froglife and partners from The University of Zurich in Switzerland has shown that on average common toads have declined by 68% over the last 30 years in the UK. In some areas, such as the south-east of England, declines have been even more pronounced.
Like many native species, the common toad faces challenges such as:
- Loss of habitat, including breeding ponds and wet woodlands due to drainage and land development.
- Road crossings during migration, disrupt their journeys and pose a serious threat due to increased traffic.
How We Help: The Toad Patrol
Our Toad Patrol Volunteers are on hand to assist these endangered creatures. Wearing high-visibility jackets and armed with torches and buckets, we help them cross the road safely. However, if you’re driving during migration, please:
- Slow down near the Derrydown Surgery junction and St. Mary Bourne Lake.
- Keep an eye out for toads, especially on mild, damp evenings.
- Join our Toad Patrol
Spreading Awareness: School Visits
One of the highlights of the year is when Caroline Hoyes, our Toad Patrol Coordinator, visits St. Mary Bourne School to share the toad patrol story during assembly. Dressed in her high-visibility jacket and equipped with a bucket, torch, and slideshow, Caroline explains the important work we do and invites children to join with their parents on safe, wet, and warm nights at the surgery to witness the toads’ journey firsthand.
Her key message to the children—and for them to share with friends and family is:
Slow down and look for toads on the road. These amazing creatures can often be seen in car headlights, but only if drivers are careful and aware.
Get Involved!
Want to make a difference? Join our Toad Patrol and help protect this vital species.
Together, we can help these toads safely complete their journey and preserve biodiversity in our community.
Thank you for driving carefully!
Thanks to our partnership with Froglife, our crossing is now a registered site. With their support and help from Hampshire County Council, road signs have been installed to alert drivers to take extra care.
Yearly Highlights and our Toad Tally
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2020: Launching the Patrol
In 2020, we launched the Bourne Valley Toad Patrol with 14 enthusiastic volunteers, including several young families. Their dedication was incredible—we moved 380 toads, 21 frogs, and one newt to safety from February 15th until March 31st. The toads were guided under the gate near the surgery, while frogs were directed to local ponds.
Unfortunately, lockdown began on March 31st, abruptly ending our efforts. On the bright side, reduced traffic during lockdown likely benefited the toads.
2021: A Challenging Season
This spring, 13 volunteers worked tirelessly to move 646 toads and 24 frogs to safety over 77 hours of patrolling. Starting February 17th, we encountered plenty of toads but also faced challenges:
- Harsh weather left toads arriving thin after a long, cold winter.
- Breeding disruptions occurred due to willow branch removal from the lake mid-season.
- Habitat loss from village development further strained the population
- Increased lighting at the lake and nearby housing developments further disturbed their habitat.
This year, we observed a curious behavior: male toads arriving first to the surgery car park and recreation ground paths, often lingering in wait for their mates. We only moved them if they were in direct danger.
The surgery staff deserves a special mention for rescuing toads on Derrydown Lane, and most local drivers showed care. Sadly, traffic on the main road remained a hazard, and we lost a few toads.
We also registered a new crossing at the Hurstbourne Priors-Tufton lane with Froglife. Signs were installed for the 2022 season, though patrolling was beyond our capacity.
2022: Expanding the Team
A successful Facebook appeal boosted our numbers to 22, with 13 active volunteers clocking 74 hours of patrolling. Despite the tricky weather—only two wet, warm evenings between February 7th and April 5th—we moved 387 toads and 144 frogs to safety.
This year highlighted how every season is unique:
- Unusual patterns: Toads arrived in small numbers on colder, wet nights, with one big movement of 112 toads on a single evening.
- A new discovery: Many frogs were heading to meadows below the surgery, born there three years earlier during a flood.
We also saw expansion:
- A local resident took over patrolling the new Testbourne crossing, supported by Sam (contact: 07876 610949).
- Volunteers helped establish a patrol at Nun’s Walk, Longparish, now led by Susie (contact: 07880 733121).
2023: Record Numbers and Baby Toads
This year’s efforts brought a mix of successes and challenges:
- 631 toads rescued during 61 hours of patrolling by our 16 volunteers.
- Sadly, 39 toads were lost, mostly along a new stretch of road between the lake and Bourne Valley Inn—a very long journey for such tiny creatures.
One heartwarming moment came last August, when baby toads, each the size of a raisin, were spotted leaving the lake for the first time. Two adventurous little ones even lingered around the surgery steps before heading off to find new patches in the valley.
Special thanks to:
The surgery staff, who continue to rescue stranded toads near Derrydown Surgery and our volunteers, who braved long, dark evenings in all weather.
Caroline Hoyes, our Toad Patrol Co-ordinator, also did an illustrated talk to about 60 Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers in Whitchurch, talking about the six local toad patrols which have all been started as a result of us starting the first one in patrol in 2020.
2024: A Mysterious Season
This year brought unusual challenges due to weather fluctuations. Early warm nights in January triggered early toad migrations, though the main group arrived around Valentine’s Day. Scattered arrivals continued for a month.
A puzzling behavior emerged as pregnant females with males on their backs began turning away from the gate upon arrival. We soon discovered that rats were attacking the toads near the gate, forcing us to step in. Some volunteers spent days ferrying toads directly to the water to keep them safe.
Despite the challenges, our 27 incredible volunteers rescued 542 toads over an impressive 117 hours of patrolling. Sadly, 40 toads were lost, many visible in car headlights. We continue to urge drivers to slow down and look carefully, especially when they see our signs and patrollers in action.
Join our Expanding Team of Toad Patrollers
- Save our Toads – it is estimated that 20 tonnes of toads are killed annually on our roads in the UK.
- Supervised children welcome – They love getting close to nature.
- It’s a fun way to meet like-minded people.
