A pond in winter looks cold and lifeless, but when spring returns it brims with life. Water attracts all kinds of creatures and the tiniest garden pond will soon become a home for frogs. Even a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water will provide a welcome, although they need more space to breed. I have several "frog puddles" in my garden. But did you know that we have "singing" frogs?
A pond in winter
Some of the kinds of frogs we have in the United Kingdom can make a lot of noise! Perhaps to describe the noise as "singing" is being polite, others describe it as croaking or quacking. Whatever one's thoughts on this, the noise from a large pond full of "Green Frogs" is extraordinary. This group of frogs includes Pool Frogs, (Pelophylax lessonae), Marsh Frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus), Edible Frogs (Pelophylax esculentus) and hybrids. The UK Pool Frog is very rare and protected by law. European Marsh Frogs on the other hand are not a native species, they arrived in Kent, from Hungary in 1935 and are now found across South-East England.
Respect wildlife - please do not take or move ANY frog spawn or tadpoles!
If you want to learn more about frogs, or other amphibians, I recommend Froglife: http://www.froglife.org/learning-zone/
N.B. Pool Frogs have full legal protection under UK law making it an offence to kill, injure, capture, disturb or sell them, or to damage or destroy their habitats. This applies to all life-stages.
