How Common is the Common Frog?


Garden ponds are now an important refuge for common frogs in Kent, having faced serious declines due to pollution and the removal of their natural ponds by farming and development in the past 50 years. However new threats loom over the frog in the form of disease, most notably from ranavirus (often termed ‘red-leg’) and chytrid fungus, found for the first time in Britain this month.

Froglife, the national wildlife charity that represents amphibians and reptiles is, with the help of Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group, asking pond owners to let them know how their resident common frogs are faring in an effort to determine the future of this charismatic garden amphibian.

common frog

Common Frog (Photo: Lee Brady)

Simple information on frogspawn, the use of garden chemicals and even dead frogs, are vital to obtain an understanding of how the frog is faring. Information like this also allows a starting point on which to base all further research.

This is where the general public can help!
Froglife are asking members of the public to spare 60 seconds to fill in a 'FROGWATCH' questionnaire and help them make a real difference to the conservation of this loveable British amphibian.

“It’s easy to view frogs as everyday garden residents, but amphibians - being sensitive to changes in both land and water – are drastically important indicators of the quality of our environment.”
- Victoria Micklewright, Wildlife Information Officer, Froglife

“The long-term future of British amphibians is still very much in the balance and simple data about our common frog could be a crucial tool in amphibian conservation in the future.”
- Victoria Micklewright, Wildlife Information Officer, Froglife

Questionnaires can be downloaded here or can be posted out by sending an A4 stamped addressed envelope entitled ‘FROGWATCH’ to:

Froglife, White Lodge, London Road, Peterborough PE7 0LG.

More information on frogs in Kent can be found on the KRAG webpages.


Rick Hodges

Posted: Mon - October 17, 2005 at 09:04 am        

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