Wildwood Trust: Frogs and toads in danger

The uncommon frogs & toads of Britain are in danger

Latest research show sightings of toads in Britain have fallen by over 30% in the last 5 years & frog numbers have plummeted 17%. Toad numbers have decreased by nearly 70% over the last 30 years, as reported in the RSPB survey published last week.

These shocking findings emphasise the calamity that continues in the loss of wildlife in Britain's countryside.

To highlight the loss of habitat for our struggling wildlife, this month sees the launch of Wildwood’s new amphibian and reptile conservation exhibit, where you can catch a glimpse of some of Britain’s frogs and toads as well as a range of other reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates from around the world.

Wildwood's Head Keeper Paul Wirdnam said:

“We are excited that visitors will be able to learn about our endangered amphibians. Our toads have been rescued and nursed back to health and should be ready to be seen by visitors in a couple of weeks. The loss of habitat has forced frogs and toads to live in urban areas and they are in danger of being hurt. The toads we have at Wildwood are recovering from serious injuries caused by strimmer blades/string; damage which could have been avoided if people take the time to walk the grass before they start cutting it.“

Wildwood’s Peter Smith said:

“We can all help frogs and toads by building a pond in our garden but gardens only make up 1% of the UK’s land surface, to understand the problem we need to look at what has happened to farmland and other parts of our countryside.”

“Behind every wildlife disaster, including the one happening to our frogs and toads in the UK are government rules set in place that rewards people with tax breaks and subsidies for killing our wildlife. Much of our wildlife is clinging on to small pockets of suitable habitat when contrary to many people's beliefs it is not housing or roads that is killing our wildlife but what is happening to land in our farms, waterways and countryside.”

“With Brexit comes a once in a lifetime opportunity to save the taxpayer billions in wasteful subsidies and tax breaks to those who use their land inefficiently and rob our wildlife of a home. Rewilding the UK offers us a chance to benefit our economy, make our food production more secure for our children and protect nature, but we must address the core issue of inefficient land use and the rewards that can be made from destroying wildlife.“

CONTACT

Wildwood Trust: +44(0)1227 712 111

Peter Smith: peter@wildwoodtrust.org or 07986 828229

Dan Farrow: dan.farrow@wildwoodtrust.org or 01227 209617

Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay, Nr Canterbury, Kent CT6 7LQ

Registered Charity No. 1093702

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ABOUT WILDWOOD

Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.