‘Toad Patrollers’ needed to give Lancashire amphibians a fighting chance this winter

Toad numbers have declined 68% in the past 40 years. Pic: Dolphinholme Toad Patrols

A group of frog enthusiasts is calling for volunteers to come forward to help keep toads off the road as winter turns to spring in the rural areas north of Preston.

There is a special drop in session taking place at Dolphinholme village hall, near Garstang, next Wednesday, 15 January, and it is being organised by Dolphinholme Toad Patrols.

From February until April, Dolphinholme Toad Patrols works hard to keep toads, frogs and other amphibians out of the way of vehicles on rural roads.

And the group is calling for more people to help move toads off the roads as dedicated volunteers patrol rural lanes from dusk until the commuter traffic has died down.

Toads start to move at dusk and throughout the night. They will try to get to their breeding ponds no matter what gets in their way, this results in many getting squished on the roads by traffic.

Sadly, since 1985 there has been a 68% decline in toad numbers.

This Dolphinholme patrol was set up late in the 2024 season and in just 10 nights of patrolling the group helped 369 toads, 17 frogs and 21 newts.

Sadly, however, 80 toads didn’t make it.

Therefore, in a bid to drive up volunteer numbers, the group has an information drop-in evening on 15 January at Dolphinholme village hall between 7.30-8.30pm and is urging people to come along to find out more about patrolling with them, or if you just want to learn a little bit more about toads.

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