Mind the road ‘cos you might get squashed

“Minding roads” was part of my road safety training as a youngster and is a piece of advice I am attempting to pass on to some of the local toad population.

You’ve got it, I have just been enrolled again as an assistant toad watcher. I help toads across roads! Simple.

At this time of year, the books say, male and female toads converge on certain ponds and water ways in order to meet up and mate. Sadly these ponds are often near to roads and toads are not the fastest or most nimble of creatures when crossing roads. As a consequence of this many of them have a terminal existential encounter with a passing vehicle and therefore don’t make it to their happy hunting ground.

So I am there to help – a bit like a lollipop man without a lollipop – if you follow.

To continue, for those of you who have not yet fallen asleep in this wondrous tale – I know my narratives can have a soporific effect – in case you fear I am to be found loitering all day long near certain ponds in North Norfolk, I can explain that the toads only make their annual pilgrimage just before or just after dusk. That is when toad watchers are required.

There are rumours that the toads will return to the place where they were conceived and born. It is a lovely sentimental idea, largely, I suspect without much foundation, but it seems to be true that only certain water holes are suitable and there’s no doubt that large numbers of these mini reptiles congregate at specific places. 

This year the cold weather has meant that the migration to and from the pond has hardly begun, so there is time for anyone interested out there in the North Norfolk region to find out more about it. Drop me a comment or email and I will see if I can put you in touch with a local organiser. It is simple enough – all you need is warm waterproof clothing, preferably a high-viz jacket so that the cars can swerve round you, a bucket and a torch. Remember toads don’t bight.

Have a good weekend.